§ Tim LoughtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate of drug price inflation his Department is using in budgets for financial year 2004–05. [144145]
§ Mr. HuttonIn calculating budgets for 2004–05, we are providing for a growth of about ten per cent. in the estimated outturn expenditure on drugs for 2003–04. The percentage growth is based on a combined figure of volume and price inflation, and we are thus unable to break it down to obtain separate figures.