§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total value of products made available through the National Health Service on prescription in the latest available year; and what was the administrative cost involved in dealing with these prescriptions.
§ Mr. FairgrieveThe total cost of prescriptions dispensed by chemist contractors, appliance suppliers and dispensing doctors in Scotland in 1980 was £115.1 million, of which £90.7 million comprised the costs of drugs, appliances, containers and oxygen equipment rental. The balance of £24.4 million represented payment of dispensing fees, oncosts and other miscellaneous allowances. The costs incurred in 1980–81 by the prescription pricing division in pricing prescription forms and providing associated services totalled £1.6 million.