HC Deb 20 March 1996 vol 274 c244W
Mr. Donohoe

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many questions were tabled to his Department in each Session since 1987–88; and how many were not answered on the grounds of disproportionate cost; what percentage of the total number of questions this represented; how many were not answered on the grounds that the information was not centrally available; and what percentage of the total number of questions this represented. [21145]

Mr. Horam

The Department of Health was not formed until July 1988, so information is not available for the Session 1987–88. The number of questions answered since the 1988–89 Session are shown in the table.

Session Number of questions
1988–89 3,311
1989–90 4,588
1990–91 3,072
1991–92 1,523
1992–93 5,932
1993–94 5,033
1994–95 4,836

Source:

POLIES and JUSTIS Parliamentary.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Pendle (Mr. Prentice) and the right hon. Member for Derby, South (Mrs. Beckett) on 12 December 1994, Official Report, cols. 470–71, for information on replies stating that information is not held centrally, for the 1989–90 to 1993–94 Sessions.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Darlington (Mr. Milburn) on 1 February 1995, Official Report, column 722, for information on replies stating that information could not be provided on grounds of disproportionate cost, for the 1989–90 to 1993–94 Sessions.

Mr. Horam

Guidance on the rational and cost-effective use of drugs for the maximum benefit of patients takes full account of the need to secure the agreement and commitment of clinicians when decisions are made. HC(88)54 recommends that this input be made through local drug and therapeutic committees.