Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made, if any, of the annual cost to the NHS of providing free prescriptions to those with (1) asthma, and (2) long-term health conditions.

The Department has made no such estimate. Extensive arrangements are already in place to help people access National Health Service prescriptions. These include a broad range of NHS prescription charge exemptions.

To support those with greatest need who do not qualify for an exemption, 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.