§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the average cost of ingredients for prescription within the National Health Service in each quarter since June 1983; and what was the total cost of such ingredients in January in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe figures requested, in respect of prescriptions dispensed by chemists and appliance contractors in the family practitioner services, are as follows:438W
Average cost of prescription ingredients (England) £ July to September 1983 inclusive 3.61 October to December 1983 inclusive 3.59 January to March 1984 inclusive 3.49 The figures for April to June 1984 are not yet available.
439W
Total ingredient costs (England) £ January 1980 54,878,976 January 1981 66,022,830 January 1982 74,061,318 January 1983 85,077,466 January 1984 92,653,461