§ Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the cost to the National Health Service of drugs prescribed by family doctors in each of the last 10 years; and what percentage of the total costs of the Service that represented in each of those years.
§ Mr. MoyleThe information is as follows:
401W
Year ending 31st March Cost to the National Health Service of drugs prescribed by family doctors* Percentage of total cost of the Service* £ million Per cent. 1968 142 11.1† 1969 137 10.1† 1970 145 10.1 1971 160 9.4 1972 177 9.3 1973 201 9.2 1974 223 9.0 1975 273 8.4 1976 (provisional) 362 8.1 1977 (estimated) 415 9.0 * Excluding charges to recipients; including fees paid to pharmacists and dispensing doctors. † England and Wales: all other figures relate to England. Local Health Authority expenditure on services transferred to Area Health Authorities on 1st April 1974 is included in the years up to 1974.