HC Deb 20 February 1992 vol 204 c271W
Miss Lestor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the dates and amounts of increases in prescription charges, in pence and percentage terms, since June 1979.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The requested information is in the table. One hundred million more items are prescribed free now compared to 1979. One item in six now carries a charge. In 1979 it was one item in three.

Prescription Charges: increases in pence and percentage terms June 1979 to April 1992.
Date Increase
Pence Per cent.
16 July 1979 25 125.00
1 April 1980 25 55.55
1 December 1980 30 42.85
1 April 1982 30 30.00
1 April 1983 10 7.69
1 April 1984 20 14.28
1 April 1985 40 25.00
1 April 1986 20 10.00
1 April 1987 20 9.09
1 April 1988 20 8.33
1 April 1989 20 7.69
I April 1990 25 8.92
1 April 1991 35 11.47
1 April 1992 35 10.29