§ Mr. Craigenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has of an increase in the number of patients who are unable to pay for medicines prescribed by their doctor because of low incomes; and what consideration he proposes to give to the suggestion, put to him recently by Greater Glasgow North health council, that pharmacists should mark "not dispensed" on the prescription form as a means of ascertaining the extent of patients declining to pay for medicines.
§ Mr. John MacKayThere are existing arrangements whereby those on low income can be exempted from prescription charges and no one need therefore be prevented from obtaining prescribed medication on hardship grounds. In the circumstances I do not consider that there is any benefit to be obtained from introducing monitoring arrangements of the kind suggested by Greater Glasgow North health council.