§ Mrs. Wiseasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is his estimate of the number of women for whom prescriptions for tranquillisers are issued: and if he has any information relating to the extent of the prescription of tranquillisers for mothers of young children;
(2) what information he has about the number of prescriptions for tranquillisers issued annually; and what is their cost to the NHS.
§ Mr. EnnalsIn 1974, the latest year for which figures are available, 20.1 million prescriptions for tranquillisers were dispensed in England at a cost to the National Health Service of £10.3 million. I regret that the statistics are not maintained in a form that would enable me to estimate the number of women for whom prescriptions for tranquillisers are issued, and that no information is available about the extent of the prescribing of tranquillisers for mothers of young children.