§ Jackie BallardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what plans she has to extend the exemption from prescription charges to include people with long-term and chronic illnesses;[57861]
(2) what plans he has to change the eligibility criteria for exemption from prescription charges. [57860]
§ Mr. MilburnThe current prescription charge exemption arrangements were reviewed as part of the Government's Comprehensive Spending Review. Following the Review, all current prescription charge exemptions will be protected for the rest of the Parliament and existing patient charges will rise by no more than the rate of inflation over the next three years.