§ Mr. Peter Robinsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total cost of prescriptions given on the National Health Service in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years;
(2) how many prescriptions were given to patients on the National Health Service in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Chris PattenThe numbers of prescriptions issued by general practitioners, including those dispensed directly by dispensing doctors, and the gross cost of prescriptions in each of the years from 1979 to 1983 were as follows:
Years Number thousands Gross cost £ thousands 1979 12,933 33,692 1980 13,038 41,940 1981 13,051 49,007 1982 13,435 56,982 1983 13,984 63,665 Gross cost includes charges payable by patients. Figures are not available for the cost of individual patient prescribing in hospitals.