§ Mr. MaddenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will make it his policy that children and other patients who are required to follow a dairy and egg-free diet should be able to obtain the products they require under prescription; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyIt is not the function of the NHS to provide food products on prescription. We recognise that in some cases GPs may consider their active intervention is necessary to help patients keep to medically recommended diets. In such cases, GPs may prescribe from a range of specially manufactured food products recommended by the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances. These include products designed for the120W treatment of patients with lactose intolerance or whole protein intolerance and patients who have to follow a low protein diet.