HC Deb 17 December 1996 vol 287 cc586-7W
Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people(a) were prescribed and (b) took the steroid Prednisolone in Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9643]

Mr. Gwilym Jones

Information collected centrally relates to the number of prescription items dispensed. Available information shows that there were 610,750 prescriptions, excluding drugs used in hospitals, dispensed for Prednisolone between June 1994 and July 1996. This does not, however, indicate the number of people being prescribed or taking the drug as one person can have more than one prescription dispensed during the period in question.

Mr. Flynn

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how many people have(a) become crippled and (b) died from taking the steroid Prednisolone in Wales in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement. [9642]

Mr. Jones

Information on the number of people crippled by taking Prednisolone is not available centrally. There were no deaths, as a result of taking Prednisolone, recorded in Wales between 1993 and 1995—the only years for which these data are readily available.