§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will place in the Library leaflets produced by her Department which give advice about exposure to the sun's rays; and if she will make a statement about changes to this advice.
§ Mr. SackvilleCopies of the Health Education Authority leaflet "Are you dying to get a suntan" are available in the Library. The independent expert advisory Committee on Medical Aspects of Radiation in the Environment (COMARE) have been asked to advise on what further steps, if any, Government should consider in
Table 1. Number of items prescribed by general practitioners and hospitals and dispensed by community pharmacists in each year from 1979 to 1991 for which patients (a) paid a charge when the item was dispensed; (b) did not pay a charge when the item was dispensed, and reason for non-
payment (millions)
(a) (b) Year (i) Number of items prescribed
and dispensed
(ii) Number of items in (i) for
which a charge
was paid when
the item was
dispensed
(iii) Number of items in (i) for which a charge was not paid when the item was dispensed by reason for
non-payment
Exempt Pre-payment certificate No Charge Contraceptives 1979 304.6 108.7 181.3 10.4 4.2 1980 303.3 90.9 192.6 15.2 4.6 1981 3000 76.5 200.0 18.3 5.2 1982 311.3 76.5 210.4 18.4 6.0 1983 315.3 70.6 220.7 17.8 6.2 1984 320.5 69.6 226.5 17.5 6.9 1985 318.7 63.2 232.6 16.9 5.9 1986 322.5 60.3 241.3 15.7 5.3 1987 335.1 60.6 253.8 15.6 5.1 1988 346.5 61.6 263.5 16.1 5.3 1989 351.9 61.4 268.1 16.8 5.6 1990 360.5 60.1 276.9 17.6 5.9 1991 370.8 56.1 290.5 18.2 5.9
306W
Table II Number of items prescribed by general practitioners and hospitals and dispensed by community pharmacists to patients exempt from prescription charges in each year from 1979 to 1991 by category of exemption (millions) Exemption categories Year The young1 Retirement pensioners Family health service authority exempt2 NHS low income scheme charge remission War/service pensioners No declaration3 Declaration not specific4 Total all exemption categories 1979 34.3 100.9 12.4 15.9 0.9 12.9 4.0 181.3 1980 37.0 108.8 14.4 16.7 0.9 10.8 4.0 192.6 1981 35.5 110.9 15.2 19.5 0.9 13.8 4.2 200.0 1982 40.1 112.7 15.9 24.2 0.9 12.6 4.0 210.4 1983 39.1 117.2 16.6 28.2 0.9 14.8 4.0 220.7 1984 38.2 121.0 17.1 31.9 0.9 13.3 4.1 226.5 1985 38.3 125.7 17.0 32.5 0.9 14.3 4.0 232.6 1986 36.6 129.6 17.4 36.3 0.9 16.1 4.5 241.3 1987 38.2 135.6 18.3 39.3 0.8 17.0 4.6 253.8 relation to ultraviolet radiation and health risks. The Committee's advice, which will be published, is expected shortly.