Information

HC Deb 01 June 1998 vol 313 cc85-6W

Mr. Sanders

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his Department operates a monitoring exercise of persistent inquirers for information. [42643]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 19 May 1998]: HM Treasury Public Enquiry Unit (PEU) records the total number of calls answered by PEU staff. We do receive calls from persistent inquirers but we do not monitor these independently of the overall total.

Mr. Galbraith

The information by health board and Scotland for financial years 1993–94 to 1997–98 is set out in the table. The costs shown are based on the value of ingredients dispensed by community pharmacists and dispensing doctors before the addition of dispensing fees or deduction of any discount or patient charges. The cost of drugs used in hospital treatment of asthma is not available centrally.

The costs shown relate to drugs used in the treatment of asthma contained in British National Formulary sections 3.1 (Bronchodilators), 3.2 (Corticosteriods) and 3.3 (Cromoglycate and related therapy). Some of the drugs may be used in the treatment of other conditions.