§ Mr. Arnoldasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual level of expenditure by the National Health Service on anti-depressant and related drugs; and what have been the corresponding figures for each of the past five years (a) in absolute terms and (b) adjusted for inflation in the cost of these products.
§ Mr. John PattenInformation is available only for the family practitioner service, not for the hospital and community health service.
The total basic drug cost of anti-depressants and anti-depressant and sedative-tranquilliser combinations prescribed and dispensed within the family practitioner service in England in the last five years is as follows*.
the years 1979 to 1982 inclusive; and if he will list by number the regulation under which they were made in 1981 and 1982.
§ Dr. BoysonI regret that the information requested is not available.
Data collected on the number of supplementary benefit payments made do not seperately identify payments made under the urgent cases regulations.