§ Mr. FlynnTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy to extend to asthmatics the same arrangements for free regular prescriptions that now apply to diabetics.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNo. The Government's policy is to direct help with prescription charges to those who are likely to have difficulty in paying charges on financial grounds. More than 75 per cent. of prescriptions are now dispensed free of charge. To extend the small list of medical conditions which confer exemption from charges to include asthma would benefit only those whose income is above the qualifying threshold for low income exemption. This would not be making the best use of NHS resources.