§ Baroness Wilcoxasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will give an assurance that, in view of their manifesto commitment, they have no intention of imposing charges for prescriptions on old age pensioners during the life of this parliament.
§ Baroness Jay of PaddingtonWe will be examining prescription charges as part of the Government's comprehensive spending review. The Government remain committed to the historic principle of the National Health Service that health services should be available to all and access be based on need not on ability to pay.