§ Mr. Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans he has to entitle men aged 60 to 64 years to free National Health Service prescriptions;
(2) what would he the cost of extending entitlements to free National Health Service prescriptions to men aged 60 to 64 years.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIt is not possible from the information available to estimate accurately the cost of extending the present arrangements for exemption from NHS prescription charges to include men aged 60 to 64 years. The existing arrangements, particularly those for persons on low income, ensure that no one, regardless of age, needs to forgo necessary medication on financial grounds, and we therefore have no plans to change them. As a result of these arrangements over 75 per cent. of prescription items are dispensed free.