§ Ms HarmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list, for each year since 1992, the average cost to the NHS and community centre services of someone aged(a) under five, b) five to 15, (c) 16 to 24, (d) 25 to 44, (e) 45 to 64, (f) 65 to 84), (g) 85 or over and (h) 16 to 64 overall; and if he will provide estimates for the number of people in those age groups of each sex and in total and the respective average cost to the NHS and community care services for each group in 2000, 2010 and 2020. [41983]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe information available on the average estimated cost per head to the national health service by age is shown in the table. Information on personal social services expenditure by age group is not available centrally.
£ Age group 1992–93 1993–94 Under 5 530 577 5 to 15 289 300 16 to 64 411 431 65 and over 1,419 1,457 Notes:
1. Figures are expressed in real terms at 1993–94 prices.
2. The figures are per head of population and cover expenditure on hospital and community health services and family health services only.
3. A more detailed breakdown is not available for total NHS expenditure.
Population projections for the years 2000, 2010 and 2020 are shown in the table. No estimates have been made of expenditure by age for these years.
§ Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for health further to his oral contraceptive statement of 23 October,Official Report, column 701–2, if he will review the advice given to general practitioners and family planning professionals in the light of the statement made by the CPMP on 27 October, concerning those oral contraceptives which contain gestodene and desogestrel. [41487]
§ Mr. SackvilleThe Committee for Proprietary Medicinal Products assessment makes it clear that, on the basis of three studies, oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene are associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism. Its position statement 681W also envisages that it may be appropriate to inform doctors and women about the risks of oral contraceptives but it does not specify what information should be provided about the increased risk of venous thromboembolism. This and the fact that the CPMP's statement is not a binding opinion indicates that it is a mater for individual member states to deal with based on their particular prevailing circumstances.
The advice recently given by the Committee on Safety of Medicines on oral contraceptives containing desogestrel or gestodene has been reviewed in the light of the CPMP's statements. The action we have taken in the United Kingdom is consistent with the CPMP's statements and therefore no additional action is necessary at present. The matter will be kept under close review in the light of any new scientific evidence which may emerge.