§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the cost of exempting persons in receipt of invalidity benefit from prescription charges; and what would be the cost if their families were also exempted.
§ Dr. OwenThese costs cannot be precisely estimated but are thought to be about £1¾ million and £2½ million respectively in Great Britain. About a quarter of invalidity benefit recipients are already exempt from prescription charges on low income, age or other grounds.