§ Mr. Cormackasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the National Health Service budget was represented by the cost of prescribed medicines in 1965, 1970, 1975, 1980 and 1984, respectively.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 57]: The proportion of total National Health Service expenditure attributable to the cost of drugs (excluding the cost of dispensing) was:
Year ended 31 March Per cent. 1965 10.1 1970 10.9 1975 7.8 1980 9.6 1984 10.9 Note: Over the period there were small differences in the way the basic information was assembled.