§ Mr. Nigel JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many prescriptions were issued in each of the last five years for which figures are available; how many of these prescriptions were exempt from charges; and what was the gross income to her Department from prescription charges.
§ Mr. SackvilleThe available information is shown in the table. The analysis of free-of-charge and charge-paid items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors is based on a one-in-20 sample of all the prescriptions they submit to the Prescription Pricing Authority. Items dispensed by dispensing doctors cannot be similarly analysed because doctors are not obliged to obtain a written declaration of entitlement to free prescriptions from the patients to whom they dispense free of charge, and there is no basis on which a reasonable estimate could be made. All prescribed items personally administered to patients by prescribing doctors are free of charge.