What legal fees were incurred by the NHS in pursuing prosecutions for prescription charge evasions last year.

None. No criminal charges have been brought against patients for prescription charge evasion in Scotland. There has been one criminal case involving four charges of fraud perpetrated by altering prescription forms and one criminal case involving four charges of fraud perpetrated by obtaining drugs using false identities. Both cases were led by the police, with support provided by investigators from NHSScotland Counter Fraud Services. Civil penalty charges may be imposed on patients who are found to have evaded NHS charges, including prescription charges.