§ Miss Richardsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people claimed free prescriptions on grounds of low income in each year since 1970; and how many of these were claiming it on the passport of supplementary benefit or family income supplement.
§ Mrs. ChalkerIt is not possible to say how many recipients of supplementary benefit and family income supplement actually claimed free prescriptions, but the estimated numbers, including dependants, entitled to do so and not already entitled to exemption on age grounds are set out below, together with the numbers of other people claiming exemption on grounds of low income to whom exemption certificates were issued. These certificates also provide exemption for dependants of the certificate holder.
Year Estimated number of recipients of SB and FIS and their dependants not otherwise entitled to free prescriptions Number of people to whom exemption certificates were issued on grounds of low income (millions) (thousands) 1970* 1.1 15 1971 1.4 69 1972 1.4 38 1973 1.2 26 1974 1.2 20 1975 1.3 13 1976 1.4 13 1977† 1.5 11 * Family Income Supplement was not introduced until 1971. † Latest year for which information is available.