asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish annual figures of the cost at constant prices of prescribed drugs in Wales in each of the last five years and indicate how annual increases or decreases compare in percentage terms with similar increases or decreases in the United Kingdom as a whole.

The cost of prescribed drugs in Wales at the latest available constant prices—1975 Survey—was as follows:

1971–72	…	…	£17·722 million
1972–73	…	…	£18·424 million
1973–74	…	…	£18·336 million
1974–75	…	…	£18·791 million
1975–76	…	…	£20·481 million

The following table compares in percentage terms the increases and decreases in the cost of prescribed drugs between Wales and Great Britain. Details for Northern Ireland are not readily available.

Wales
1972–73	…	…	…	+3·96
1973–74	…	…	…	-0·48
1974–75	…	…	…	+2·48
1975–76	…	…	…	+8·99
Great Britain
1972–73	…	…	…	+4·70
1973–74	…	…	…	+2·95
1974–75	…	…	…	+2·89
1975–76	…	…	…	+6·38