§ Sir Andrew BowdenTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is her best estimate of the average number of prescription items used each year by people over state retirement age.
§ Mr. MaloneIn 1993, some 176.5 million prescription items were dispensed free of charge by community pharmacists and appliance contractors in England to people who declared on their prescription form that they were either a woman aged 60 and over or a man aged614W 65 and over. This equates to an annual average of 17.6 prescription items per head for each person of state retirement age or over, resident in England.