asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications for new medical cards were received and how many sent out on each day and each week from 1 April to the week ending Saturday 18 May.

The central services agency does not normally maintain records of this nature. However, during the period from 29 April 1985 to 13 May 1985 inclusive the numbers of applications received and medical cards issued were as follows:

	Applications	Issues
29 April	1,501	1,231
30 April	3,220	1,769
1 May	5,972	3,137
2 May	5,323	4,330
3 May	5,810	4,136
4 May	2,419	1,325
5 May	414	2,376
6 May	618	5,176
7 May	7,229	2,490
8 May	5,426	3,162
9 May	4,485	3,158
10 May	3,480	5,506
11 May	543	3,572
12 May	34	4,740
13 May	3,143	*3,000
	49,617	49,108
*Estimate.

These figures cover valid applications for replacement medical cards. In addition, approximately 1,500 applications have been received during the period from new applicants and people who have changed doctor. Of these applications, all those received from applicants of voting age have been processed.