HC Deb 04 February 1985 vol 72 c463W
Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recommendations have been made to him by the British Medical Association to reduce the size of the National Health Service drugs bill; and what response he has made.

Mr. Kenneth Clarke

In my recent meeting with the British Medical Association, its representatives stated that they share the Government's aim of encouraging economic prescribing. They are now proposing a scheme of voluntary generic substitution but this would not produce such immediate and worthwhile savings on the drugs bill as our limited list proposals.