§ Mr. Bob Dunnasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the Official Report the total cost of all prescriptions dispensed and the actual amount of that cost borne by patients for the latest date for which figures are available and for each of the preceding five years.
79W
§ Sir George YoungFigures, relating to the family practitioner service in England, are as follows:
Year Total cost Income from charges £ million £ million 1973–74 249.1 23.8 1974–75 300.1 23.2 1975–76 412.7 23.8 1976–77 502.0 23.5 1977–78 620.8 23.7 1978–79 (Provisional) 728.7 24.6
ENGLAND Thousands Year Total number of prescription items dispensed Exempt items Chargeable items Contraceptive items*† 1974 … 274,298 (100 per cent.) 165,059 (60.2 percent.) 109,241 (39.8 percent.) — 1975 … 281,772 (100 per cent.) 171,285 (60.8 percent.) 107,663 (38.2 per cent.) 2,824 (1 per cent.) 1976 … 292,638 (100 per cent.) 176,671 (60.4 per cent.) 110,223 (37.7 percent.) 5,744 (1.9 percent.) 1977 … 295,656 (100 per cent.) 180,429 (61.0 per cent.) 109,638 (37.1 percent.) 5,589 (1.9 percent.) 1978 … 307,097 (100 per cent.) 187,791 (61.2 per cent.) 114,251 (37.2 per cent.) 5,055 (1.6 percent.) * Prior to July 1975 doctors could only prescribe contraceptive substances on clinical grounds. These prescriptions appear under the respective exempt or chargeable categories. From July 1975 contraceptive substances became available on National Health Service prescription, dispensed free of charge † These are estimates obtained from a sample of approximately one in 200 prescriptions dispensed in pharmacies and by appliance contractors.