Blindness Allowance (Hansard, 18 December 1984)

§ Mr. Alfred Morris
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further representations his Department has received in the last year in support of a blindness allowance; and if there is any action he will be taking now or in the foreseeable future.

§ Mr. Newton
We have received over 200 representations in the last year, mainly from right hon. and hon. Members, referring to the recent campaign for a blindness allowance organised by the Royal National Institute for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind and the National League of the Blind and Disabled. As regards meetings with deputations, I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) on 29 November at column575.
On the question of the introduction of a blindness allowance, I refer the right hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bournemouth, West (Mr. Butterfill) on 22 October at column 514.

Financial year Number of NHS pre-scriptions dispensed^* (millions) Cross cost of prescriptions† (£ million) Cost as proportion of total NHS expenditure Percentage Income from FPS Income prescription charges (£ million) Income as proportion of total NHS expenditure Percentage

1974–75 288.8 296.7 8.6 23.1 0.7

1975–76 304.3 380.7 8.4 22.7 0.5

1976–77 305.2 477.5 9.3 23.1 0.4

1977–78 316.6 590.3 10.4 23.3 0.4

1978–79 326.2 699.5 10.8 24.2 0.4

1979–80 322.1 790.1 10.2 38.6 0.5

1980–81 318.9 973.7 9.8 70.8 0.7

1981–82 323.6 1,124.7 10.1 86.6 0.8

1982–83 332.5 1,290.0 10.6 102.8 0.8

1983–84 339.1 ‡1,430.6 11.1 ‡110.0 0.9

^* All figures relate to prescriptions, including hospital prescriptions, dispensed in England by community pharmacists, drug stores and appliance contractors, prescriptions dispensed by dispensing doctors (excluding those dispensed under capitation fee arrangements) and items personally administered by prescribing doctors.

† Includes the cost of fees and allowances paid for dispensing.

‡ Provisional.

§ Mrs. Ann Winterton
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report all those dates on which the National Health Service prescription charge has been raised; and what was the new value of the charge on each of those dates.

§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke
Since its introduction in 1952, the charge paid on drugs dispensed by community pharmacists against NHS prescription has changed as follows:

Financial year	Number of NHS pre-scriptions dispensed^* (millions)	Cross cost of prescriptions† (£ million)	Cost as proportion of total NHS expenditure Percentage	Income from FPS Income prescription charges (£ million)	Income as proportion of total NHS expenditure Percentage
1974–75	288.8	296.7	8.6	23.1	0.7
1975–76	304.3	380.7	8.4	22.7	0.5
1976–77	305.2	477.5	9.3	23.1	0.4
1977–78	316.6	590.3	10.4	23.3	0.4
1978–79	326.2	699.5	10.8	24.2	0.4
1979–80	322.1	790.1	10.2	38.6	0.5
1980–81	318.9	973.7	9.8	70.8	0.7
1981–82	323.6	1,124.7	10.1	86.6	0.8
1982–83	332.5	1,290.0	10.6	102.8	0.8
1983–84	339.1	‡1,430.6	11.1	‡110.0	0.9
^* All figures relate to prescriptions, including hospital prescriptions, dispensed in England by community pharmacists, drug stores and appliance contractors, prescriptions dispensed by dispensing doctors (excluding those dispensed under capitation fee arrangements) and items personally administered by prescribing doctors.
† Includes the cost of fees and allowances paid for dispensing.
‡ Provisional.