Health, Social Care and Sport Committee

Meeting date: Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Official Report 669KB pdf

Subordinate Legislation

National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023 (SSI 2023/181)

The next item on our agenda is consideration of a negative instrument—the National Health Service (Free Prescriptions and Charges for Drugs and Appliances) (Scotland) Amendment Regulations 2023. The purpose of the instrument is to increase the prescription charge that is applied to English prescription forms that are presented for dispensing in Scotland. The policy notes state that the uprating will align Scottish charges with English charges, which were increased on 1 April 2023.

The Delegated Powers and Law Reform Committee considered the instrument at its meeting on 27 June 2023, and it made no recommendations in relation to the instrument. No motion to annul has been lodged with regard to the instrument. I propose that the committee make no recommendations in relation to the negative instrument. Do members agree?

Members indicated agreement.

Our meeting next week will be a session with the Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care, concerning the programme for government for 2023-24.