§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his Department's estimate of the number, percentage and total value of prescriptions dispensed under the National Health Service which cost less than £1.
§ Sir George YoungSuch estimates are not prepared routinely and require a special sampling exercise. Only when the effects of the £1 prescription chare—introduced on 1 December 1980—upon prescribing and dispensing are reflected in the data will it be worthwhile to carry out a special exercise to produce reliable estimates. The current estimated average cost of a prescription item is £3.20p.