§ Mr. Laurence RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many couples have been turned down by the NHS for infertility treatment(a) in Gloucestershire and (b) in the UK, in the last five years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement; [142102]
(2) what is the average cost per couple of providing infertility treatment on the NHS; and if he will make a statement. [142101]
§ Yvette CooperThe information requested is not available. A report to the Scottish Office's Clinical Resources and Audit Group estimated the average cost of assisted conception treatment as £1,900. (Expert Advisory Group on Infertility Services in Scotland: "Evidence and Equity: a national service framework for the care of infertile couples in Scotland" April 1999.)
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms Keeble) on 30 November 2000, Official Report, column 895W.