§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many National Health Service prescriptions were dispensed by chemists in the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency in each year since 1975;
(2) how many people received drugs by National Health Service prescription from chemists in the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency in each year since 1975;
(3) what was the value of National Health Service drugs dispensed by chemists in the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency in each year since 1975.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeWe do not use parliamentary constituencies as the geographical area for collecting information about the number of prescription items dispensed by chemists, so that figures for the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency are not readily available centrally. My hon. Friend may wish to approach the Staffordshire FPC, which may be able to provide it. In the Staffordshire FPC area, which includes the Staffordshire, Moorlands constituency, chemists dispensed each year the following numbers of prescription items at the total net ingredient cost shown:
Number of Prescription Items Net Ingredient Cost £ 1975 5,522,517 5,100,384 1976 5,738,251 6,707,384 1977 5,877,794 8,713,177 1978 6,215,668 10,700,014 1979 6,115,096 12,273,371 1980 6,130,534 14,862,577 1981 6,004,945 17,161,139 1982 6,269,013 20,029,714 1983 6,396,393 22,734,638 The number of people for whom these prescription items were dispensed is not known.