HC Deb 25 January 1977 vol 924 cc569-70W
Mr. Gould

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many free prescriptions were granted on grounds of low income to (a) those receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement, and (b) to those receiving neither supplementary benefit nor family income supplement in 1975 and 1976.

Mr. Moyle

Information is not available on the numbers of prescriptions issued to persons in these categories. In England in 1975 about 1.3 million persons covered by supplementary benefit or family income supplement were entitled to exemption from or refund of prescription charges. Applicants entitled to exemption on other low income grounds received 13,000 exemption certificates and 5,000 refunds: these also covered any dependants. Similar information for 1976 is not yet available.