asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of his decision to increase prescription charges from the present 45p to 70p from 1 April 1980, he will list in the Official Report the precise details of eligibility for exemption from charges and eligibility for prepayment certificates.

Prescriptions for the following people are dispensed without charge:

• Children under 16.
• Women aged 60 and over.
• Men aged 65 and over.
• Expectant mothers.
• Mothers who have a child under one year of age.

People suffering from the following specified medical conditions:

i. permanent fistula (including caecostomy, colostomy or ileostomy) requiring continuous surgical dressing or an appliance;

ii. diabetes mellitus;

iii. myxoedema;

iv. hypoparathyroidism;

v. hypopituitarism;

vi. Addison's disease and other forms of hypoadrenalism;

vii. Myasthenia gravis;

viii. epilepsy requiring continuous anti-convulsive therapy;

ix. a continuous physical disability which prevents the patient leaving his residence except with the help of another person (this does not mean a temporary disability even if it is likely to last a few months).

• War/Service pensioners (for prescriptions needed for treating their accepted disablements).
• People receiving supplementary benefit or family income supplement.
• People whose income is not much above supplementary benefit level.
• People holding pre-payment certificates (season tickets).

The cost of a pre-payment certificate from 1 April 1980 will be £4·50 for four months or £12 for one year. Anyone can buy a certificate, which offers good value for a person who needs more than 17 items on prescription in a year, or more than six items on prescription in four months.