§ Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Health, taking the £ as having a purchasing value of 20s. in 1949, what the comparative figures for the drug bill and the average cost per prescription form under the National Health Scheme in 1949 would be today, making an allowance for the depreciation in the purchasing value of the £ sterling since 1949.
20W
§ Miss Hornsby-SmithThe cost of the pharmaceutical services in 1949–50 was £31.5 million and the average cost per prescription form in 1949 was 4s. 6d. Recalculation of these figures on the basis suggested by the hon. Member produces figures respectively of about £4225 million and 6s.