§ Mr. Shersbyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of providing contraceptive devices and substances under the National Health Service for the most recent 12-monthly period for which figures are available; and what was the comparable figure for the last year before such items were available without charge.
§ Sir George YoungInformation is not available in this form, but the estimated outturn expenditure on the National Health Service family planning service—England—for 1978–79 is £43 million, of which about £18 million is assessed as representing the cost of providing contraceptive devices and substances. Comparable figures for 1973–74, the last year before these items were available without charge and when a substantial proportion of family planning services was undertaken through local authorities, are not available.