§ 28. Dr. M. S. Millerasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the cost to the National Health Service of the average prescription in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage increase in cost this represents in each year using 1973 as base year.
§ Mr. John PattenThe information in respect of prescriptons dispensed by chemists and appliance contractors in the family practitioner services is as follows:
Year Average gross cost of a prescription (£) Percentage increase over previous year 1973 0.88 — 1974 0.99 12.6 1975 1.28 28.5 1976 1.54 20.7 1977 1.87 21.6 1978 2.14 14.3 1979 2.43 13.4 1980 2.96 22.0 1981 3.42 15.6 1982 3.79 10.9