§ Mr. RapsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to increase charges in the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [111237]
§ Mr. DenhamWe shall lay before the House regulations to increase National Health Service charges in England from 1 April 2000. There will be a cash increase in the charge of 10p, (1.69 per cent.) from £5.90 to £6.00 for each quantity of a drug or appliance dispensed.
The cost of prescription prepayment certificates will rise to £31.40 for a four-month certificate and £86.20 for an annual certificate. These offer savings for those needing more than 5 items in four months or 14 in one year.
Prescription charges are expected to raise some £380 million for the NHS in 2000–2001.
Charges for elastic stockings and tights, wigs and most fabric supports supplied through the Hospital Service will be increased similarly.
The maximum patient charge for a single course of dental treatment begun on or after 1 April 2000 will increase from £348 to £354. Only about 1 in every 1,000 courses of treatment will attract the new maximum charge.
The increases are in line with the movement of the retail prices index from January 1999 (the benchmark for the current charge) to November 1999 of 2 per cent., but rounded to the most convenient unit. Movements in the retail prices index from November to November will become the benchmark for any subsequent charges increases within the three year period following the Comprehensive Spending Review.
Optical voucher values in England will increase overall by 2 per cent. to help children, people on low income and certain people with complex sight problems with the cost of spectacles or contact lenses.
NHS charges and optical voucher values in Scotland and Wales are a matter for the devolved administrations. However, I can inform my hon. Friend that these proposals have been considered jointly with the Secretary for Health and Social Services to the National Assembly for Wales who tells me she will be putting forward parallel proposals for consideration by the Assembly.
667WDetails of the revised charges have been placed in the Library.