§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the annual cost of cutting NHS prescription charges by(a) 1 per cent., (b) 2 per cent. and (c) 5 per cent. in (i) 1996–97 and (ii) 1997–98. [22837]
§ Mr. MaloneFor 1996–97, a 1 per cent. reduction in the prescription charge would cost the national health service approximately £3 million in lost revenue, 2 per cent. would cost £6 million and 5 per cent. would cost £15 million. The costs for 1997–98 would be similar.