§ Mrs. Ann Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what has been the total number of prescriptions issued under the National Health Service in each of the last 10 years;
(2) what has been the total cost to the National Health Service of prescriptions in each of the last 10 years; and what his figure is as a percentage of the total National Health Service expenditure in each of those years;
(3) what has been the total revenue from prescription charges in each of the last 10 years for which figures are available; and what this figure is as a percentage of total National Health Service expenditure in each of those years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe information requested is set out in the table:
155W
Date — — 1 June 1952 — 1/- (5p) per form 1 December 1956 — 1/-(5p) per item 1 March 1961 — 2/- (l0p) per item 1 February 1965 — prescription charges abolished 10 June 1968 — prescription charge reintroduced at 2/6d (12½p) per item
Date — — 1 April 1971 — 20p per item 16 July 1979 — 45p per item 1 April 1980 — 70p per item 1 December 1980 — £1.00 per item 1 April 1982 — £1.30 per item 1 April 1983 —£1.40 per item 1 April 1984 — £1.60 per item