§ Mr. Wyn Robertsasked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish annual figures of the cost at constant prices of prescribed drugs in Wales in each of the last five years and indicate how annual increases or decreases compare in percentage terms with similar increases or decreases in the United Kingdom as a whole.
§ Mr. Alec JonesThe cost of prescribed drugs in Wales at the latest available constant prices—1975 Survey—was as follows:
1971–72 … … £17.722 million 1972–73 … … £18.424 million 1973–74 … … £18.336 million 1974–75 … … £18.791 million 1975–76 … … £20.481 million The following table compares in percentage terms the increases and decreases in the cost of prescribed drugs between Wales and Great Britain. Details for Northern Ireland are not readily available.
Wales 1972–73 … … … +3.96 1973–74 … … … -0.48 1974–75 … … … +2.48 1975–76 … … … +8.99 Great Britain 1972–73 … … … +4.70 1973–74 … … … +2.95 1974–75 … … … +2.89 1975–76 … … … +6.38