§ Mr. FlightTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure was on the acquisition of rubber ferrules in each year since 1997. [174158]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton[holding answer 20 May 2004]: Ferrules are supplied to the national health service as part of the NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's national agreement for the supply of walking aids. The Department holds information on ferrules bought since 1998–99. The contract is not mandatory, and therefore some NHS bodies may buy ferrules from other sources.
The expenditure on the contract was as follows:
£ 1998–99 96,670.37 1999–2000 103,094.37 2000–01 87,739.36 2001–02 96,896.97 2002–03 101,855.81 2003–04 106,347.92 Note: All figures include Value Added Tax.