Written question asked by Peter Bradley (Labour) on Thursday, 10 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 17 March 2005. It was answered by Baroness Winterton of Doncaster (Labour) on Thursday, 17 March 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the average cost per item prescribed was of prescriptions issued by (a) dispensing and (b) non-dispensing general practitioners in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Answer: Peter Bradley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost per item prescribed was of prescriptions issued by (a) dispensing and (b) non- dispensing general practitioners in each year since 1997; and if he will make a statement. [221967] Ms Rosie Winterton: [holding answer 15 March 2005]: The average net ingredient cost per item of prescriptions issued by dispensing and non-dispensing doctors that were dispensed in the community in England in each year since 1998, is shown in the table. Average net ingredient cost per item £ _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Dispensing doctors Non-dispensing doctors 1998 9.19 9.19 1999 9.91 10.04 2000 9.96 10.18 2001 10.24 10.46 2002 10.76 11.14 2003 11.09 11.60 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Note: Data for 1997 is unavailable.

Secondary information