§ Mr. McCrindleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning
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Numbers of deaths with any mention of hypothermia, by age and month of registration; United Kingdom, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales (provisional) United Kingdom Month of registration Under 25 25–34 35–44 45–54 55–64 65–74 75–84 85+ Total January 1 2 2 2 13 54 124 78 276 February 2 2 2 7 8 32 85 68 206 March 2 2 1 8 12 24 67 41 157 April 4 1 2 3 5 22 38 23 98 May 2 2 — 3 4 8 29 11 59 June 1 1 3 — — 3 9 11 28 July 1 — — 1 2 4 6 5 19 August 2 — — — 1 3 9 5 20 September — — 3 1 — 2 8 6 20 October 3 — 1 2 2 8 10 5 31 November 1 2 1 4 5 9 27 25 74 December 3 2 — 3 11 16 36 23 94 Total 22 14 15 34 63 185 448 301 1,082 England* January 1 1 2 1 8 29 88 60 190 February 2 1 2 7 8 25 63 52 160 March 2 2 1 6 11 17 52 32 123 April 4 1 2 2 2 15 26 20 72 May 2 2 — 3 3 6 22 6 44 June 1 1 3 — — — 7 9 21 July 1 — — — 2 3 4 2 12 August 1 — — — 1 3 3 2 10 September — — 2 — — 1 4 3 10 October 3 — 1 1 — 4 10 2 21 November 1 1 1 1 2 3 15 13 37 December 2 2 — 3 7 8 28 13 63 blanket exemptions from prescription charges for the elderly and children; and if consideration has been given to a means-tested system for prescription charges within those categories; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HayhoeMany representations are received regarding the prescription charge exemption arrangements, the vast majority of which seek additions to the present exempt categories. Automatic exemption of the elderly and children was one of the many points raised in a letter from the British Medical Association.
As I made clear in my statement to the House on 10 March at column 671, I have no plans to change the existing range of exemptions or the list of exempted medical conditions.