HC Deb 28 January 2003 vol 398 c813W
Chris Grayling

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what right he will have to veto European proposals to introduce the 16 week provision relating to medical staff in the United Kingdom. [93633]

Mr. Hutton

The proposed provision forms part of a draft directive, which is the subject of continuing negotiation. In publishing it, the European Commission stated that its adoption would be by qualified majority insofar as its implementation did not require changes in the law of any member state governing the professions regarding training and conditions of access by natural persons. If that presumption failed, adoption would require unanimity.

Net ingredient cost (£000) of dementia drugs dispensed in the community in England
Prescribed in GP practices1 Prescribed in hospitals2 Total NIC 3 Percentage of NIC of drugs dispensed in the community which were prescribed in hospitals
Aricept (Donepezil Hydrochloride)
October-December 2001 1818.3 1137.3 2956 38
January-March 2002 2046.7 1170.8 3217.6 36
April-June 2002 2476.7 1263.3 3740 34
July-September 2002 2865 1405.6 4271.7 33
12 months ending September 2002 9206.8 4977 14185.3 35
Reminyl (Galantamine)
October-December 2001 185.5 196.8 382.5 51
January-March 2002 240.6 215.8 456.4 47
April-June 2002 327.3 242.5 570.1 43
July-September 2002 410.3 263.5 673.9 39
12 months ending September 2002 1163.7 918.6 2083 44
Exelon (Rivastigmine)
October-December 2001 264.7 126.8 391.4 32
January-March 2002 287.5 131 418.5 31
April-June 2002 325.7 138.5 464 30
July-September 2002 362.9 154.8 517.7 30
12 months ending September 2002 1240.8 551.1 1791.6 31
1Prescribed in GP practices in England, and dispensed in the community (this can include prescriptions written in England dispensed outside England).
2 Prescribed in hospitals, and dispensed in the community in England (Also included are prescription written in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man but dispensed in England).
3 NIC of all prescription items dispensed in the community in England.

Notes:

Total items may not necessarily equal the sum of 1 and 2, because of the slight difference in geographical cover.

Information about drugs prescribed and dispensed in hospitals is not available.