§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doses of benzodiazepines were administered in hospitals in each of the last five years in (a) Merseyside regional health authority, (b) East Berkshire regional health authority, (c) Greater Manchester regional health authority and (d) Wessex regional health authority.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThis information is not available.
§ Mr. Wareingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many prescriptions for benzodiazepines were issued in each of the last five years for those people aged 16 to 24 years, 25 to 34 years, 35 to 44 years, 45 to 60 years and over 60 years;
(2) what was the total number of prescriptions for benzodiazepines issued by year during the last five years; and what was the regional breakdown.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe number of NHS prescriptions for benzodiazepines dispensed by community pharmacists in England for the last five years is as follows: 471W
Millions 1979 25.7 1980 23.9 1981 24.2 1982 24.4 1983 23.3 Information on the regional pattern could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Information on the age breakdown of patients for whom they were prescribed is not available.