§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the numbers of patients who would need to be reimbursed through social security offices to 50p per item of prescription.
§ Dr. VaughanIt will take me some little time to assemble the available information.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the net total revenue received by the National Health Service in each of the last five years in respect of six-month and 12-month season tickets for prescriptions of patients requiring permanent medication.
§ Dr. VaughanThe revenues from the sale of pre-payment certificates in England in each of the last five years was as follows:
1974 £666,000 1975 £693,000 1976 £719,000 1977 £750,000 1978 £765,000
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the number of cases where prescriptions were obtained fraudulently without payment, the number of civil servants engaged in monitoring these charges, his estimate of the annual cost of such monitoring and the total sums reimbursed for each of the last three years to a convenient date.
§ Dr. VaughanI am making inquiries and will let the hon. Member know.
§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost of allowing patients who had suffered a coronary thrombosis complete exemption from prescription charges.
§ Dr. VaughanI cannot give a reliable estimate. The prescription needs of thrombosis patients vary considerably, and it would be difficult to estimate the cost of exempting them, particularly as many210W will already be exempt on age or income grounds, or may, if they need particularly frequent prescriptions, have decided to purchase a prepayment certificate.