HC Deb 18 June 1974 vol 875 cc92-3W
Mr. Molloy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of clerical grade officers and senior officers employed by the London Executive Council in 1973 to check the exemption from prescription charges; what was their estimated annual cost; what was the number of prescriptions checked during the year; what was the number of patients found not to have been entitled to exemption; and what was the total of the charge recovered from those patients.

Dr. Owen

Staff time spent checking exemption from prescription charges cannot be readily identified or costed in the Inner London Executive Council area. Checks were completed on about 60,000 prescription forms; 837 patients were found to be not entitled to exemption and £274 was recovered from them.

Mr. Molloy

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of clerical grade officers and senior officers employed by the Middlesex Executive Council in 1973 to check the exemption from prescription charges; what was their estimated annual cost; what was the number of prescriptions checked during the year; what was the number of patients found not to have been entitled to exemption; and what was the total of the charge recovered from those patients.

Dr. Owen

In terms of whole-time equivalents, one-fifth of a senior grade officer and one and a half clerical grade officers at an annual cost of about £2,500; checks were completed on about 40,000 prescription forms; 113 patients were found to be not entitled to exemption and £50 was recovered from them.