§ Mr. George RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been(a) the amount raised from prescription charges within the NHS in Scotland and (b) the expenditure on the system of NHS prescription for medication within the NHS in Scotland; and if he will give the difference between (a) and (b) in each year since 1979–80. [6156]
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 14 December 1995]: The information for the financial years 1979–80 to 1994–95 is set out in the table. The information shows (a) the annual income from NHS prescription charges paid by patients in respect of drugs and appliances dispensed by community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and appliance suppliers and the sums collected in respect of the sale of prepayment certificates; (b) the net ingredient cost of the drugs and appliances and the remuneration paid to community pharmacists, dispensing doctors and appliance suppliers for dispensing these drugs and appliances, and (c) the difference between (a) and (b).
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£ million (c) (b) Difference (a) Annual between (a) Year Annual income expenditure and (b) 1979–80 4.38 99.94 95.56 1980–81 7.87 120.63 112.76 1981–82 10.27 137.57 127.30 1982–83 11.89 155.86 143.97 1983–84 12.87 172.02 159.15 1984–85 14.03 183.56 169.53 1985–86 15.62 195.30 179.68 1986–87 19.00 211.91 192.91 1987–88 18.25 235.98 217.73 1988–89 19.82 262.59 242.77 1989–90 21.69 292.82 271.13 1990–91 23.03 320.89 297.86
£ million Year (a) Annual income (b) Annual expenditure (c) Difference between (a) and (b) 1991–92 25.51 359.55 334.04 1992–93 27.87 402.78 374.91 1993–94 30.51 435.97 405.46 1994–95 33.23 473.44 440.21