§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what savings would accrue to the national health service if(a) special fees to doctors were not paid in connection with contraceptive provision, (b) the full market costs were payable for contraceptive products prescribed and (c) her Department ceased to fund organisations which supply free condoms and contracep-tive products.
§ Mr. SackvilleInformation is not available in the form requested. The costs incurred in providing free contracep-tive services have to be weighed against the increases in the cost of health and personal social services which would occur as a result of more unplanned pregnancies. The figures given relate to England only.
The cost of item of service fees paid to general practitioners for the provision of contraceptive services to women was £45.425 million in 1992–93.
The available information regarding the cost of contraceptive products prescribed relates to the net ingredient cost of contraceptive drugs and appliance prescriptions dispensed by retail pharmacists and appliance contractors, dispensing doctors and prescrip-tions submitted for items personally administered. In 1992 this cost was estimated at £44.580 million.
The cost to district health authorities and national health service trusts of providing national health service family planning services in 1991–92 was estimated at £40 million.
§ Ms PrimaroloTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her estimate of the percentage of(a) general practitioners and (b) family planning clinics that provide condoms for patients.
§ Mr. SackvilleAlthough detailed information is not available centrally, the supply of condoms is generally part238W of the comprehensive service available from family planning clinics. It is for district health authorities to decide on what arrangements to make to supply condoms through general practitioners.