§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what specific progress has been made during the last three years by his Department in establishing methods for stockpiling medical supplies in the event of a nuclear war.
§ Mrs. CurrieWe have reviewed peacetime storage arrangements to make greater use of direct supply systems, and introduced large regional distribution systems backed by more local satellite stores. New control systems are being introduced which would facilitate rapid exchange and borrowing between health authorities, the NHS and industry, where required. This is preferable to tying up
126W
Number of prescriptions (million) of which: dispensed by dispensing doctors (million) Total number of perscriptions per population Net ingredient cost (NIC) (£ million) of which: dispensed by dispensing doctors (£ million) NIC per thousand population (£) 1985 Northern 24.0 1.1 7,780 98.0 3.9 31,772 Yorkshire 27.5 2.4 7,641 105.4 8.8 29,284 Trent 33.7 2.8 7,296 128.8 10.5 27,851 East Anglia 13.3 3.7 6,754 54.1 13.8 27,543 North West Thames 22.8 0.5 6,537 92.0 1.8 26,413 North East Thames 25.9 1.1 6,912 98.2 3.7 26,168 South East Thames 25.1 1.1 6,980 99.2 3.9 27,535 South West Thames 19.0 0.6 6,421 78.0 2.3 26,323 Wessex 19.0 1.5 6,671 78.8 5.5 27,621 Oxford 14.6 1.6 5,990 61.0 6.2 25,036 South Western 22.8 2.6 7,250 91.0 9.6 28,874 West Midlands 38.5 1.8 7,426 146.7 6.8 28,301 Mersey 19.8 0.3 8,173 72.4 11.0 29,864 North Western 33.8 0.3 8,460 125.6 1.1 31,450 Total 339.9 21.3 7,215 1,329.1 79.1 28,211 1986 Northern 24.2 1.1 7,864 105.5 4.3 34,250 Yorkshire 28.3 2.5 7,862 115.2 9.7 31,992 Trent 34.3 2.9 7,404 141.2 11.6 30,473 East Anglia 13.5 3.8 6,760 59.3 15.2 29,757 resources in large contingency stocks for emergency use. Further, more detailed planning is still in progress, and guidance will be issued once that work is completed.