§ Mrs. Peacockasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the recent decision to allow increases in spending on family practitioner services to fall below the level of inflation.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeFull allowance has been made for the forecast rate of inflation in the amount we plan to spend next year on the family practitioner services. We have been able to restrict the growth in spending by the action we announced recently to reduce expenditure on drugs through tighter controls on drug company profits and limitations on the use of some of the less important drugs. The ending next year of the general supply of NHS glasses, except to those at present exempt from charges, will also reduce expenditure. Even with these reductions, we still expect to spend £100 million more than was planned in the last expenditure White Paper.