§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many people in total and in each health authority are currently known to suffer from cystic fibrosis;
(2) how many of the total number of people in England and Wales who currently suffer from cystic fibrosis are over the age of 16 years; and what this figure is as a percentage of sufferers;
(3) what information he has about the recent survey conducted by the British Paediatric Association concerning the percentage of adult cystic fibrosis sufferers who also suffer from diabetes;
(4) how many adult cystic fibrosis sufferers are currently entitled to free prescriptions because they also have the secondary condition of diabetes; and how many adult cystic fibrosis sufferers this leaves who are liable to pay prescription charges for their medication;
(5) what information he has concerning the finding of the recent survey by the Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults as to the numbers of adult cystic fibrosis sufferers who are in employment and the numbers unemployed who are exempt from prescription charges;
(6) if he will estimate the total number of cystic fibrosis patients who are currently paying prescription charges.
(7) what information he has concerning the average prescription charge paid annually by adult cystic fibrosis sufferers who are liable for such charges;
(8) if he will estimate the total annual revenue generated by prescription charges paid by cystic fibrosis sufferers;
(9) what action he proposes to take in the light of the conclusion of Cystic Fibrosis Research Trust about the number of cystic fibrosis sufferers who currently pay prescription charges and about the total revenue generated;
(10) if he has any plans to exempt cystic fibrosis sufferers from prescription charges.
§ Mr. NewtonOnly a limited amount of information is available and none is collected centrally. From information on the number of children identified as having cystic fibrosis, together with data on survival it can be estimated that there are about 5,600 people with cystic fibrosis in the United Kingdom of whom about 2,400 (40 per cent.) are over 16. In a study of 316 cystic fibrosis patients seen at the Brompton hospital between 1965 and 1983, 36 (11.5 per cent.) developed diabetes mellitus, 13 of whom were insulin-dependent and would therefore be exempt from prescription charges. Patients seen at the Brompton hospital are not necessarily representative of the cystic fibrosis population as a whole, but the figures do provide some indication of the prevalence of diabetes among cystic fibrosis sufferers.
Housing Benefit: tapers and tax rates since 1982 November 1982 April 1983 April 1984 November 1984 November 1985 April 1987 Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Rent taper 17 21 26 29 29 33 Rates taper 6 7 9 9 13 13 MTR for a non-taxpayer 23 28 35 38 42 46 MTR for a taxpayer 53 58 65 68 72 73 Notes:
1. The tax rate prevailing at the time has been used. No account has been taken of national insurance contributions or other benefits.
692WThis information is not sufficient to estimate the numbers of people suffering from cystic fibrosis who have to pay prescription charges, or the revenue generated by charges paid by them, though I understand that the Association of Cystic Fibrosis Adults (UK) believes about 800 cystic fibrosis adults are liable to pay prescription charges at an estimated total annual cost of £51,000.
Although the cost of extending the present arrangements for exemption from prescription charges to include cystic fibrosis patients would be small, it would be unfair to single out one group from others who seek an extension of exemption on medical grounds. We therefore have no plans to change the existing arrangements.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the practice with regard to cystic fibrosis patients receiving replacement therapy due to a deficiency state; and if such treatment qualifies for exemption from prescription charges.
§ Mrs. CurriePatients who suffer from cystic fibrosis are not automatically exempt from prescription charges. They may, however, qualify for exemption by reason of their age, their financial circumstances or on other medical grounds.