§ Mr. PikeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health whether he now proposes to make any extension to the categories covered by free prescriptions.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyNo. A full charge is paid on less than one in five prescription items dispensed in the NHS. The present exemption arrangements protect those who are likely to have difficulty in paying charges. Those who are not exempt but who need a lot of prescriptions can limit their outlay by buying a prepayment certificate.