HC Deb 17 March 1988 vol 129 cc679-80W
Mr. Hood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what is, for each year since 1974, the amount of prescription payments made to drug companies by the National Health Service, at current prices.

Mr. Newton

The cost of drugs to the NHS in England, at 1987–88 prices, is set out in the table:

Family Practitioner Services £ million Hospital and Community Health Services
1975–76 805 1197
1976–77 926 223
1977–78 1,038 242
1978–79 1,127 260
1979–80 1,101 271
1980–81 1,125 272
1981–82 1,171 286
1982–83 1,257 305
1983–84 1,345 317
1984–85 1,358 318
1985–86 1,371 319
1986–87 1,436 332
1987–88 31,538 20
Notes:
1 Data not available prior to 1975–76.
2 Data for Hospital and Community Health Services drug costs are not yet available for 1987–88.
3 Latest FPS estimate.