§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average net ingredient cost and gross cost, respectively, of a National Health Service prescription in 1960, 1965, 1970, 1975, or at such points as the information is available to him, and the most recent year for which information is available to him.
§ Sir George YoungI regret that information is not readily available before 1962. The average net ingredient cost and gross cost of a National Health Service prescription dispensed by general practice pharmacy contractors in England and Wales in 1962, 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1979 are as follows:
Average net ingredient cost (pence) Average gross cost (pence) 1962 30 43 1965 35 52 1970 49 68 1975 93 128 1979 192 243 Notes:
(1) General practice pharmacy contractors are the owners or managers of pharmacies, drug stores or appliance contractors in contract with family pracitioner committees for the dispensing of National Health Service prescriptions
(2) Payments in respect of rota fees and rural subsidies have not been included in the gross cost per prescription figure for 1962 as the amounts are not readily available.
(3) The cost of prescriptions dispensed by doctors are not included in these figures.
§ Mr. Mike Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many National Health Service prescriptions were dispensed in each of the years from 1960 to the year most recently available to him.
§ Sir George YoungThe numbers of National Health Service prescriptions dispensed in England and Wales by general practice pharmacy contractors from 1960 to the most recent years available are as follows:
122W
millions 1960 218.7 1961 205.0 1962 196.6 1963 205.5 1964 209.4 1965 244.3 1966 262.0 1967 271.2 1968 267.4 1969 264.2 1970 266.6 1971 266.5 1972 275.8 1973 284.1 1974 295.4 1975 303.4 1976 315.2
millions 1977 318.5 1978 330.9 1979 328.2 Note:
General practice pharmacy contractors are the owners or managers of pharmacies, drug stores and appliance contractors in contract with family practitioner committees for the dispensing of National Health Service prescriptions.