HC Deb 19 May 1981 vol 5 cc78-80W
Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the cost of pharmaceutical services for each year since 1964 for England and the percentage increase in each case; and if he will give a breakdown of the cost.

Dr. Vaughan

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 77–8.]: Separate information for England is not available earlier than 1969. The following table provides figures for England and Wales for the years up to 1968 and for England from 1969 onwards.

Payments to pharmacists and appliance contractors Payments to dispensing doctors Percentage increase in Net Cost over previous year
Year ended 31 March Cost of drugs etc Fees etc Cost of drugs etc Fees etc LESS Charges Net Cost
£ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million Per Cent
1964* 66.9 27.2 †3.0 †0.9 21.7 76.2
1965* 72.9 38.6 †3.4 †1.0 †121.8 94.1 23.4
1966* 88.5 40.7 †4.2 †l.2 ‡— 134.6 43.1
1967* 94.6 40.6 †4.8 †1.3 ‡— 141.3 5.0
1968* 104.7 43.2 †5.2 †1.5 ‡— 154.6 9.4
1969 102.0 39.0 4.4 2.0 ‡9.3 138.2 **
1970 112.5 41.7 6.0 2.1 15.4 146.8 6.3
1971 123.1 44.7 6.6 2.2 14.9 161.6 10.0
1972 137.2 51.3 7.9 2.5 20.2 178.7 10.6
1973 155.6 57.9 9.3 2.9 22.8 202.9 13.5
1974 171.3 63.2 10.6 4.0 23.8 225.3 11.1
1975 207.8 76.2 12.1 4.0 23.3 276.8 22.8
1976 270.6 97.7 15.9 5.5 22.9 366.8 32.5
1977 344.7 109.5 21.5 6.9 23.3 459.4 25.2
1978 442.2 121.9 27.7 7.4 23.5 575.6 25.3
1979 530.0 136.9 33.9 8.6 24.4 684.9 19.0
1980 602.9 146.9 40.5 10.3 38.9 761.6 11.2
1981 736.6 198.2 50.9 13.0 70.5 928.2 21.9
(provisional)

Notes:

* England and Wales

† Estimated

‡ Charges abolished from 1 February 1965 and re-introduced from 10 June 1968

** Comparison is not possible between figures, relating to England and Wales and to England only

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the cost of drugs and appliances supplied by pharmacists in England for each year since 1964 and the percentage increase in each case.

Dr. Vaughan

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 77–8]: Separate information for England is not available earlier than 1969. The information is as follows:

PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES (ENGLAND)
Cost of drugs and appliances dispensed by pharmacists and appliance contractors
Year ended 31 March Cost of Drugs £ million Increase over previous year Per cent.
1964* 66.9
1965* 72.9 9.0
1966* 88.5 21.4
1967* 94.6 6.9
1968* 104.7 10.7
1969 102.0
1970 112.5 10.3
1971 123.1 9.4
1972 137.2 11.5
1973 155.6 13.4
1974 171.3 10.1
1975 207.8 21.3
1976 270.6 30.2
1977 344.7 27.4
1978 442.2 28.3
1979 530.0 19.9
1980 602.9 13.8
1981 (Provisional) 736.6 22.2
* England and Wales.
† Comparison is not possible between figures relating to England and Wales and to England only.

Mr. Freud

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list in the Official Report the percentage wage increase for each year since 1964 for (a) National Health Service pharmacist contractors and (b) the National Health Service as a whole; and what percentage wage increases have been offered in 1981.

Dr. Vaughan

[pursuant to his reply, 6 May 1981, c. 77–8]: A direct comparison between the increases agreed in the notional salary of the working NHS pharmacist contractor and wage increases for the National Health Service as a whole is not possible because the latter covers a wide range of staff groups with separate wage agreements. The attached table sets out the increase in notional salary for pharmacists for each calendar year over the previous year. For 1981 the pharmacist contractors have been offered a 6 per cent. increase in notional salary.

Year NHS pharmacist contractors percentage increase in notional salary
1965 5
1966 3
1967 17
1968 3
1969 4
1970 12
1971 8
1972 8
1973 5
1974 17
1975 22
1976 7
1977 4
1978 10
1979 47
1980 14