§ Lord Balnielasked the Minister of Health the average cost of an item on a National Health Service prescription for the latest available month compared with the same month in each of the last six previous years.
§ Mr. Powell:The average total cost of a prescription in October, 1960, for England and Wales was approximately 7s. 3½d. of which 4s. 9d. was the net ingredient cost. The corresponding figures for 1954–59 were:
October Total cost Net ingredient cost s. d. s. d. 1954 4 2½ 2 6 1955 4 5½ 2 7 1956 4 11½ 2 11 1957 5 8 3 54½ 1958 6 5½ 4 1 1959 6 10½ 4 5