§ Mr. Ashleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the expenditure of his Department, in 1982 prices, on drug monitoring for the last three years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergIt is not possible to give precise figures. The estimated gross cost to the Department of drug monitoring, at 1982–83 prices, was, in 1979–80 £414,000, in 1980–81 £466,000, and in 1981–82 £545,000. These figures include expenditure in support of non-departmental research projects and staffing and other costs attributable to the monitoring of adverse reactions undertaken by the Committee on Safety of Medicines. Some 80 per cent. of the cost of the Committee on Safety of Medicines is recovered from fees charged to applicants for licences.