§ Mr. Campbell-SavoursTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set out the arrangements governing repayment schemes relating to prescription charge repayments for policemen, firemen and their families.
§ Mr. Peter LloydPolice regulations and the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Fire Brigades (NJC) scheme of conditions of service provide for the reimbursement of certain National Health Service charges incurred by police officers and local authority fire fighters. These are charges for drugs, medicines and appliances or for dental treatment incurred under sections 77 to 79 of the National Health Service Act 1977 as amended.
The NJC scheme, but not police regulations, also provides discretion for fire authorities to reimburse certain other medical costs in the interests of efficiency. Arrangements for reimbursing charges do not extend to the families of police officers unless they are also members of the service or to the families of firefighters.