§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that when charges for medical prescriptions under the National Health Service were first introduced it was as a temporary measure, when he expects this temporary measure will cease.
§ Sir George YoungPrescription charges were reintroduced in 1968 and for economic reasons have remained in force, at various rates, ever since. Our present policy is that prescription charges should be kept under review and present expenditure plans assume that charges will be increased in line with costs in April 1982 and annually thereafter. Under the present wide-ranging exemption arrangements over 65 per cent. of prescriptions are dispensed free of charge and a further 5 per cent. are dispensed under the prepayment certificate—"season ticket"—system.