§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of prescriptions for, and the total amount prescribed of (a) tranquillisers and (b) sedatives in each of the last 10 years.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeInformation is available only from 1975 onwards, and for tranquillisers and sedatives taken together. The number of prescriptions for them in each of the years 1975–83 was as follows:
Year (Thousands) 1975 20,868 1976 21,190 1977 20,836 1978 21,028 1979 20,516 1980 18,920 1981 18,378 1982 17,916 1983 14,657 Figures are England only and are derived from a 1 in 200 sample of all prescriptions. The large reduction between 234W 1982 and 1983 is due mainly to the reclassification of certain drugs as anti-emetics rather than sedatives or tranquillisers.