§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total general practitioner drug budget for each year since 1989–90 and projected for 1992–93; and what proportion of the budget was spent on each standard age group of patients.
§ Mr. Stewart[holding answer 15 December 1992] The following are the costs of drugs dispensed each year since 1989–90 and projected for 1992–93. These figures include all presciptions dispensed by community pharmaceutical services: over 99 per cent. of the costs relates to prescribing by general practitioners. It is not possible to identify the proportion of the budget spent on each standard age group of patients.
£ million 1989–90 233.4 1990–91 257.1 1991–92 288.9 11992–93 323.5 1 Projected.