§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to publish his review of the number of medical conditions which lead to exemption from prescription charges.
§ Mr. HayhoeI expect to announce the outcome of the review soon.
1984 1985* Financial years† Jan-Mar Apr-June Jul-Sep Oct-Dec Jan-Mar Apr-June 1983–84 1934–85 Prescriptions dispensed(millions) 87.60 85.50 8180 88.10 90.80 81.00 337.00 345.40 Prescriptions exempt from charges (percentage)‡ 78.50 79.10 79.40 79.90 79.70 81.40 78.00 79.30 Costs (i) Payments by patients(excluding pre-payment certificates (£ million) 26.00 27.90 26.50 27.50 27.90 29.50 99.80 109.10 (ii) Payments from public funds (£ million) 344.50 349.20 350.40 380.90 385.50 363.60 1,331.80 1,441.10 (iii) Total costs (£ million) 374.40 379.50 379.40 411.20 418.10 395.80 1,442.50 1,562.50 (iv) Average gross cost per prescription (£) 4.27 4.44 4.64 4.67 4.60 4.89 4.28 4.52 Pre-payment certificates Number 4 Monthly (thousands) 65.20 55.50 5340 58.60 65.10 47.10 225.00 232.50 12 Monthly (thousands) 15680 79.10 83.80 94.60 174.00 71.60 427.10 431.60 Revenue (£ million) 3.90 2.40 2.50 2.80 4.80 2.70 10.90 12.40 * Figures are not yet available for the third quarter of 1985. †To allow for the time lag in payments, the statistical data has been adjusted to make it compatible with the annual financial information. ‡Derived from prescriptions dispensed by pharmacists.