asked the Minister of Health (1) what was the annual cost for each of the last three years of checking the prescription costs of general practitioners in the National Health Service;(2) how many medical officers and administrators are employed in checking the prescription costs of general practitioners in the National Health Service.

£45,000, £52,000 and £63,000, including rent and overheads, for a superintendent pharmacist and about 95 clerical staff employed by the Joint Pricing Committees and 7 clerical staff employed by my Department. No medical officers are engaged on this work but my regional medical staff visit doctors to discuss their prescribing costs.