§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the cost of abolishing prescription charges in England. [125416]
§ Ms Rosie WintertonWe estimate that the loss of prescription charge income in England would be around £446 million in 2003–04. Additionally, there could be significant additional costs to the drugs bill if people who currently pay charges sought prescriptions for medicines and other items which they currently purchase.