§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will state for each primary care organisation in England at the most recent date for which figures are available(a) the prescribing budget for 2001–02, (b) the forecast outturn for 2001–02, (c) the projected overspend or underspend and (d) the projected overspend or underspend as a percentage of budget. [32306]
§ Ms Blears[holding answer 1 February 2002]: A table setting out the prescribing budgets notified to the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) by each primary care trust or primary care group has been placed in the Library. They are practice level prescribing budgets. They do not necessarily reflect the total resource set aside 1234W locally for prescribing as primary care trusts, primary care groups and health authorities may hold contingency reserves. The forecast outturns are based on prescribing data up to and including November 2001.