§ Mr. BlunkettTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what categories of person are exempted from charges for national health service sight tests; and how much would be saved by removing the exemption from charges for each one of those categories;
(2) what categories of person are exempted from charges for national health service dental examinations; and how much would be saved by removing the exemption from charges for each one of those categories;
(3) what categories of person are exempted from charges for national health service prescriptions; and how much would be saved by removing the exemption from charges for each of those categories;
543W(4) what proportion of people receiving (a) national health service sight tests, (b) national health service dental examinations and (c) national health service prescriptions are exempted from charges;
(5) what was the number of national health service dental examinations paid for by the national health service for each six-monthly period since October 1990;
(6) how much additional revenue would be raised by increasing the standard charge for national health service prescriptions to (a) £4.50, (b) £4.75 and (c) £5;
(7) what are the latest figures for estimated annual income from national health service sight test charges;
(8) how much extra revenue would be raised by increasing the standard charge for national health service sight tests by (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent. and (c) 20 per cent;
(9) how much extra revenue would be raised by increasing the standard charge for national health service dental examinations by (a) 5 per cent., (b) 10 per cent. and (c) 20 per cent;
(10) what would be the total saving to the Exchequer from changing the exemption criteria for NHS prescription charges to those currently applied to NHS sight test charges.
§ Dr. MawhinneyI will write to the hon. Member.