§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many prescription items were dispensed by retail pharmacists in Wales in each year from 1977 onwards; and if he will publish the figures according to age categories of the consumers.
§ Sir Wyn RobertsInformation on the number of prescription items dispensed is given in the table.
Prescription items dispensed (thousands) 1977 22,801 1978 23,853 1979 23,600 1980 23,676 1981 23,430 1982 24,033 1983 24,594 1984 24,966 1985 24,738 1986 25,083 1987 26,047 1988 27,072 1989 27,761 1990 28,299 It is not possible to give numbers of prescription items dispensed according to the age of the consumer. However, the following table gives, for the years for which data are available, an estimate of the percentage of prescriptions which were exempt from charges by reason of age.
Category of exemption Under 161 Retirement age2 1983 14 42 1984 14 47 1985 14 45 1986 13 45 1987 3N/A 3N/A 1988 13 50 1989 12 50 1990 12 52 1 Children aged under 16 and children aged under 19 in full-time education. 2 Women aged 60 or over and men aged 65 or over. 3 Not available.