§ Mr. Evansasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any plans to allow general practitioners to prescribe plastic syringes to diabetics up to the equivalent cost of glass syringes; and if he will make a statement.
Number currently receiving free school meals where parents are receiving FIS or under LEA discretionary powers Number entitled to cash compensation in place of free school meals under the new family credit arrangements* Children Families Children Families Great Britain 545,000 N/A 610,000 335,000 Wales 30,000 N/A †136,000 †20,000 Mid-Glamorgan 7,500 N/A N/A N/A * On the basis of the illustrative assumptions in the Technical Annex to the White Paper (Cmnd. 9691). † Reliable estimates of a regional breakdown for family credit are not available; the figures given for Wales therefore reflect the current FIS population increased on a proportionate basis. N/A = Not available
452W
§ Mr. Hayhoe[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1986]: No. I am advised that such an arrangement is not practicable.