§ Mr. Fieldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number and percentage of eligible families who have requested to continue receiving child benefit weekly; and if he will also present this data according to each administrative area of the country.
§ Mr. NewtonAbout 4.75 million or 69 per cent. of beneficiaries whose entitlement arose before 15 March 1982 are receiving payment weekly.
The only regional figures available relate to postal regions. I regret that regional figures of child benefit 600W supplied on prescription. Although female hormone replacement therapy products such as Cyclo-Progynova and Prempak, to which I assume the question refers, are supplied in a single pack by their manufacturer, they consist of two distinct drug formulations taken sequentially. Two prescription charges are therefore payable.