§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report a list of journals and periodicals which are distributed free of charge to doctors, dentists and pharmacists and are therefore accounted by his Department in the voluntary price regulation scheme for the cost of drugs 929W to the National Health Service, the total number of each sent out each year, his Department's estimate of the cost of postage; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MoyleThe information is not available. The costs of journals and periodicals distributed free of charge to doctors, dentists and pharmacists are not necessarily accepted under the Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme. To the extent- that such costs are accepted, they form part of sales promotion expenditure. The amount of such expenditure accepted as a cost under the scheme is being reduced. As my right hon. Friend announced to the Press in July 1976, it will be limited to 10 per cent. of the value of the industry's sales by 1979. The limit is related to total sales promotion expenditure and the collection of the detailed information referred to in my hon. Friend's Question is not therefore necessary to its application.