§ Mr. HoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much has been paid to the British Oxygen Co. by the National Health Service, for each year since 1974, at current prices.
§ Mrs. CurrieI regret that this information is not available. The information which is readily available is as follows. All figures are for England and are at current prices.
Expenditure on medical gases by health authorities £ million 1978–79 12.2 1979–80 12.5 1980–81 12.3 1982–82 12.6 1982–83 12.3 1983–84 12.4 1984–85 12.4 1985–86 11.6 1986–87 12.0
Basic prices of masks and oxygen provided by pharmacists and doctors under the Family Practitioner Services £ million 1984–85 4.0 1985–86 4.4 1986–87 4.2 BOC is believed to supply over 90 per cent. of the medical gases used in the NHS.