§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost to the general medical and pharmaceutical services of non-proprietary preparations in each of the years 1950, 1958, 1965 and the latest year for which figures are available, and of proprietary preparations in each of those same years.
Mr. GrossmanThe estimated total net ingredient cost of proprietary and nonproprietary drugs dispensed by chemists in contract with Executive Councils in England and Wales was:
£ million 1950 1958 1965 1967 Proprietary preparations* 6.6 30.2 77.6 91.2 Non-proprietary preparations 9.3 8.7 5.1 6.6 * Including preparations prescribed by nonproprietary name but available only in proprietary form. Many of the new drugs introduced over this period were available only in proprietary form.