HC Deb 14 May 1991 vol 191 cc132-3W
Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions he has had with the manufacturers of benzodiazepines about their addictive characteristics.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The problem of addiction with benzodiazepines has been recognised for a number of years. The Committee on Safety of Medicines recommended restrictions on the use of these substances in order to reduce the risk of dependence associated with their use. These recommendations have been communicated to manufacturers of licensed medicinal products containing a benzodiazepine and appropriate statements are incorporated in product particulars.

Mr. Fearn

To ask the Secretary of State for Health when the labelling of benzodiazepines will be amended to include information on the side-effects and withdrawal symptoms caused by the drugs.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. and learned Freind the then Minister for Health gave him on 24 April 1989 at column381.

Mr. Cousins

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the expenditure per head on benzodiapezines in each national health service region for the most recent available period within the prescribing analyses and costs data system.

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

[holding answer 30 April 1991]: The information requested is as follows:

Cost (thousands) £ List size Cost per head £
Northern RHA 339,342 3,181,402 0.11
Yorkshire RHA 387,335 3,793,708 0.10
Trent RHA 398,875 4,875,982 0.08
East Anglia RHA 152,008 2,084,700 0.07
North West Thames RHA 249,600 4,137,667 0.06
North East Thames RHA 248,703 4,254,350 0.06
South East Thames RHA 298,234 4,052,797 0.07
South West Thames RHA 258,328 3,222,530 0.08
Wessex RHA 252,943 3,012,328 0.08
Oxford RHA 174,731 2,663,876 0.07
South Western RHA 322,435 3,587,414 0.09
West Midlands RHA 402,830 5,468,708 0.07
Mersey RHA 255,100 2,524,886 0.10
North Western RHA 536,543 4,157,513 0.13

Note:

For PACT purposes every FHSA within each region is permanently allocated to one of three quarterly processing cycles. The information provided is based on data relating to the following PACT periods:

  • *October 1990—December 1990
  • *November 1990—January 1991
  • *December 1990—February 1991