§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of exempting all those not currently exempt from prescription charges for medicines necessary for the treatment of cystic fibrosis.
§ Mr. John PattenI understand the Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust believes there to be around 1,000 sufferers from cystic fibrosis aged 16 and over. The cost of exempting them from prescription charges would be small.
However, it would be unfair to single out one group for exemption, and to accept all the claims we have received would cost more than we can ask the NHS to take on.
§ Mr. Lawrenceasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cystic fibrosis sufferers or parents of children who are sufferers are currently in receipt of social security benefit.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that there is no information available on which an estimate could be made.