§ Mr. John Huntasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the different types of contraceptive available to men and women through the family planning clinics, the price of each individual item and the total annual cost of providing such contraceptives free of charge.
§ Mr. MoyleHealth authorities in England have been advised by my Department that all recognised form of contraceptive substances and appliances should be available from family planning clinics. These include condoms, oral contraceptives, cervical caps, diaphragms, intrauterine contraceptive devices, spermicides, and thermometers and temperature charts for the rhythm method. Progestogens by injection in women are also available for use in certain circumstances. There is a variety of brands of each type of contraceptive. The brands supplied depend largely on the clinical judgment of the doctors involved. The total cost of contraceptives provided at clinics in England is estimated to be about £5 million in 1976–77. It is not possible to give the cost of each individual item since there is no central record of purchases and the cost depends on the brand and quantity ordered. Certain contraceptives528W are also available free of charge to women on prescription by family practitioners; the annual cost of supplies so prescribed is estimated to be about £9 million.