National Health Service (Charges)

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:37 pm on 29 February 1988.

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Photo of Mr Tony Newton Mr Tony Newton , Braintree 3:37, 29 February 1988

The figure is related, not to the NHS as whole, but to the family practitioner services, which are the primary focus of the statement. I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's moral strictures. Indeed, they are absurd, when about half the population are exempt from prescription charges, over three quarters of all items dispensed are dispensed free, when there are expensive exemptions on medical grounds and when there are important season ticket arrangements, which help many of those who need regular prescriptions.