Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

What steps he is taking to help ensure the affordability of prescription medicines.

About nine out of ten prescription items are free on the NHS in England due to a range of prescription charge exemptions. These cover children, pregnant women, those over 60, people on certain income related benefits or whose partner is in receipt of those benefits – as well as those with specific medical conditions.

On top of that, people on a low income can apply for support through the NHS Low Income Scheme, and all patients can also buy a pre-payment certificate which covers all the items they need for just over £2 per week.