Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of recent trends in the level of prescription charges on the ability of people with a diagnosis of asthma to access the medication they require.

Extensive arrangements are already in place to help people afford National Health Service prescriptions, which rose by 20 pence from £8.80 to £9 on 1 April 2019. These include a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions, for which someone with asthma may qualify.

To support those with greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption, the cost of the prescription pre-payment certificates were frozen for another year. A holder of a 12-month certificate can get all the prescriptions they need for just £2 per week.