§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of branded medicines obtainable without a prescription which were supplied in 1983–84 under prescription were supplied to people entitled to free prescriptions; and what proportion these prescriptions represented of the £120 million per year he referred to on 8 November, Official Report, column 226.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1984, c. 218]: In 1983, the latest year for which information is available, 81 per cent. of prescriptions for medicines obtainable without a prescription in the groups covered by the measures to which my right hon. Friend referred on 8 November, at column 226, were supplied to people claiming exemptions from prescription charges, including those covered by prepayment certificate; and these prescriptions represented around 50 per cent. of the £120 million per year to which my right hon. Friend also referred.