HC Deb 24 January 1978 vol 942 c543W
Miss Maynard

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the administrative costs of operating the prescription service in the last full financial year.

Mr. Deakins

The cost of the Prescription Pricing Authority for England in 1976–77 was £5.6 million. There were in addition the costs of staff in family practitioner committee and Government offices, and in the hospital and community health services, whose work included the administration of pharmaceutical services. These costs could not be identified without disproportionate expense.