§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services why the estimated weekly sum taken from the taxpayer for medicines supplied by the National Health Service irrespective of whether he is supplied or requires no medication at all has dropped from 57p each week in 1977–78 to 56p per week in 1978–79.
§ Mr. Moyle:I am not able to identify the figures quoted by my hon. Friend, possibly because of differing definitions of the taxpayer. Taking the term to mean direct taxpayers, excluding companies, the number for both 1977–78 and 1978–79 is 213 million. Applying this figure to the estimated final expenditure on the pharmaceutical services for 1977–78—£700.5 million net of prescription charges, Great Britain—produces a sum of 63p a week. A similar calculation against the Budget estimate for 1978–79—£765.7 million, net—increases the cost to 69p a week.