John Mason, the SNP MP for the East End, has welcomed the Scottish Government's publication of regulations which will see prescription charges cut from £4 to £3 from April 1st this year. As of next year, it is intended that prescription charges will be completely abolished in Scotland.

The planned legislation will also see the cost of a four-month Pre-Payment Certificate (PPC) reduced from £13 to £10 and a twelve-month PPC from £38 to £28.

Commenting on this news, John Mason said: "In these tough economic times reducing prescription charges will be a welcome boost to working families in the East End, and across the city.

"Prescription charges are a tax on ill health and are unacceptable in a modern society. The take up of prescriptions has increased as charges have fallen which clearly shows that people in Glasgow East and were suffering because of cost.

"From Barlanark to Barrowfield, and from Carmyle to Cranhill there are many people on modest means who need long term treatment.  They have suffered because of the tax on ill health that prescription charges represent, and I am delighted that the SNP Scottish Government is successfully phasing them out."