§ Mr. Nobleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the aver-average cost of a course of treatment for a patient using thorium X;
(2) how many National Health Service centres administering treatment for skin disorders are currently using thorium X;
(3)how many National Health Service patients were receiving treatment involving the use of thorium X in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975; and how many patients are currently receiving such treatment;
(4) what was the total cost to the National Health Service of thorium X in 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and 1975.
§ Dr. OwenI regret that none of this information is centrally available. National Health Service cost returns do not identify separately the costs of specific forms of treatment. To ascertain how many patients received treatment involving296W the use of thorium X in the years from 1970 to 1976 would involve extensive research into out-patient records and the cost of obtaining the information would be disproportionate. I understand that production of thorium X ceased in this country about a year ago.