§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the income from prescription charges and the cost of administering the system of collection and exemptions in each year from 1970 to 1975; and if he will give an estimate of these figures for 1976.
§ Dr. OwenThe information as to income is as follows:
PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES £ million England 1970–71 … 14.9 1971–72 … 20.2 1972–73 … 22.8 1973–74 … 23.8 1974–75 … 23.4 1975–76 … 22.8 1976–77 … 23.9 (Estimate) The cost of administering the system of collection and exemption cannot easily be isolated from that of other work done by staff in family practitioner committees, the Prescription Pricing Authority and social security offices, and by chemists; it is estimated to be about £1¼ million a year.