§ Mr. Scott-Hopkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services by how much it would be necessary to increase prescription charges to ensure that revenue derived from this source funded the same percentage of social security expenditure as it did in 1972.
§ Mr. MoyleExpenditure on social security benefits is not funded from prescription charge revenue, which makes a contribution towards the cost of the National Health Service. To achieve currently from such revenue the same percentage of gross NHS expenditure as in the financial year ended 31st March 1973, it would be necessary to increase charges by 150 per cent., which would entail a basic charge of 50 pence.