§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what were prescription charges in Scotland in 1979; if he will list each subsequent increase; and what has been the percentage change since 1979.
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 5 April 1990]: On 16 July 1979 the United Kingdom National Health Service prescription charge was increased from 20p to 45p. Since then the charge has been increased on 11 occasions to its present level of £3.05; the increases are listed in the table.
This represents an increase of 237 per cent in real terms.
Year Prescription Charge Cash Increase 1979 (July) £0.45 25p 1980 (April) £0.70 25p 1980 (December) £1.00 30p 1982 (April) £1.30 30p 1983 (April) £1.40 l0p 1984 (April) £1.60 20p 1985 (April) £2.00 40p 1986 (April) £2.20 20p 1987 (April) £2.40 20p 1988 (April) £2.60 20p 1989 (April) £2.80 20p 1990 (April) £3.05 25p