§ Mr. Terry Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated percentage increase in cost for the main prescription, dental and opthalmic services between the dates of the last increases in charges and 1 April 1982; and what is the actual percentage increase in those charges.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergCurrent estimates of the percentage increases in the costs of the pharmaceutical and dental services from the dates of the last increases in charges to 1 April 1982 are:
per cent. Pharmaceutical (from 1 December 1980) 16 Dental (from 1 April 1981) 16 Negotiations are in progress on the remuneration of opticians and until they are complete it is not possible to say what the implications will be for the cost of the service. The percentage increases in the main charges from 1 April 1982 are:
per cent. Prescription charge 30 Maximum charge for routine dental treatment 44 Maximum charge for any course of dental treatment 50 Maximum charge for a lens 81 Details of the charges for individual items of dental treatment and for lenses will be announced later.