§ Mr. PickthallTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) if he will allow people on Incapacity Benefit to receive free prescriptions; [8506]
(2) what assessment he has made of the extent of non-use of prescriptions by citizens on Incapacity Benefit who cannot afford the charges. [8507]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 23 October 2001]: No. Incapacity Benefit is not income related and it would not, therefore, be appropriate to extend automatic exemption from prescription charges to recipients of this benefit. No assessment has been made of the extent to which people on Incapacity Benefit do not make use of prescriptions. People on low income who are not otherwise exempt from charges, can apply for free prescriptions under the national health service low income scheme.