HC Deb 04 June 1996 vol 278 cc381-2W
Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what representations he has received from the Depression Alliance organisation; and if he will make a statement. [30782]

Mr. Bowis

I met representatives of Depression Alliance on 20 March. Departmental officials are in regular contact with the organisation and enjoy a constructive relationship with it.

Sir Teddy Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the incidence of depressive illness in the United Kingdom; and what studies are being undertaken by his Department to investigate the effectiveness of treatment. [30781]

Mr. Bowis

The national survey of psychiatric morbidity carried out in 1993, and funded by the Department of Health, includes data on the incidence of depressive illness in the United Kingdom. Copies of the documents relating to the survey are available in the Library.

Although the Department is not undertaking any studies into the effectiveness of treatment for depressive illness, the Medical Research Council, which receives its grant in aid from the office of my right hon. Friend the President

Prescribing data for general practitioners: non-fundholders and fundholders by fundholding wave Financial year 1990–91
Net ingredient Cost per prescribing unit (£)
1990–91 data for practices becoming fundholders in waves as indicated
Year All non-FH Continuing non-FH 1st wave 2nd wave 3rd wave 4th wave 5th wave
1990–91 33.85 33.80 33.25 34.39 34.06 34.07 33.82

Source:

PACT data, Prescription Pricing Authority. Figures are for items prescribed by GPs in England and dispensed during the months April-March.

Notes:

1. Expenditure is quoted in net ingredient cost terms for comparison purposes. Fundholder spending is actually monitored against actual cost, after allowing for discounts and container costs.

2. The population denominator is the prescribing unit. Persons 65 and over count as three PUs, those under 65 as one. PUs are calculated using Office of Population Censuses and Surveys mid-year estimates of the resident England population.

of the Board of Trade, is funding a number of trials which examine different types of treatment and therapies in this field.

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