HC Deb 30 July 1982 vol 28 c851W
Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of drugs to the National Health Service for the financial years 1982–83, 1983–84, and 1984–85.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

This information is not available for the hospital and community health services for these years nor for family practitioner services for 1983–84 and 1984–85. The estimated expenditure on drugs and appliances in 1982–83 for the family practitioner services is £970 million.

Mrs. Dunwoody

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost of drugs to the National Health Service, in £ sterling, at constant prices and as a percentage of total spending on the National Health Service, for each financial year since 1974–75 until the most recent available date.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

The information for England is as follows:

Total cost of drugs
in cash terms at November 1980 prices as a percentage of total NHS expenditure
£ million £ million Percentage
1974–75 268 782 7.8
1975–76 350 839 7.8
1976–77 449 902 8.7
1977–78 572 943 10.1
1978–79 686 970 10.6
1979–80 792 983 10.3
1980–81 954 974 9.6