§ Mr. Gouldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many free prescriptions were granted on grounds of low income to (a) those receiving supplementary benefit and family income supplement and (b) to those receiving neither supplementary benefit nor family income supplement in each year since 1970.
§ Dr. OwenInformation is not available on the numbers of prescriptions issued to persons in these categories. The following table gives information on their entitlement to exemption from prescription charges.
ENGLAND Persons covered by SB or FIS Number of exemption certificates issued on other low income grounds covering dependants Number of refunds made on other low income grounds (these also cover dependants) Year (millions) 1970 … 1.1 (SB only) 15,000 8,000 1971 … 1.4 69,000 16,000 1972 … 1.4 38,000 17,000 1973 … 1.2 26,000 11,000 1974 … 1.2 17,500 8,000 1975 … (Not yet available) 13,000 5,000 Because of changes in the prescription charges scheme and other factors comparisons between the annual figures in the table would be misleading.