§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health wht is the expenditure figure allowed for drug expenditure in the family practitioner service in real terms in 1991–92 as stated in paragraph 3.1 of the document, "Improving Prescribing—Working for Patients".
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyThe public expenditure White Paper shows that gross expenditure on the family practitioner services as a whole in 1991–92 will be £6,520 million, an increase of 3.9 per cent. in real terms over the previous year.
The numbers given for 1991–92 onwards are planning figures only and are subject to revision. To quote disaggregated figures, for example, for drugs alone, would therefore be misleading. Firm expenditure plans for 1991–92 are being discussed in this year's public expenditure survey, and the outcome will be published in due course.
§ Mr. Michael MorrisTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the financial implications in terms of dispensing fees of the Boots monitored dosage system.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyMonitored dosage systems have no financial implications in terms of dispensing fees.