asked the Minister of Health whether patients exempt from the payment of prescription charges by reason of the particular disease from which they are suffering will be able to obtain free prescriptions for other ailments.

A patient who is subject to the provisions of Regulation 7(l)(d) of the National Health Service (Charges for Drugs and Appliances) Regulations, 1968 is entitled to claim exemption from payment of charges for all prescriptions.

asked the Minister of Health why he will not reduce the age for exemption from prescription charges to 60 years for women.

Because I consider that the present age-limit for exemption which does not differentiate between men and women, adequately secures the Government's broad objectives.