asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress his Department is making in considering the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the National Health Service concerning the adoption of a limited list of essential and effective drugs; what estimate he has of the savings to the National Health Service of such an action; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Carmarthen (Dr. Thomas) on 13 February. —[Vol. 978, c. 703.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is considering to reduce the large annual expenditure on drugs within the National Health Service.

The Department is already engaged in a variety of measures designed to develop a more economical and rational approach to the use of pharmaceutical services consistent with good medical practice and health care. These measures include providing to doctors independently produced information about drugs and therapeutics and about comparative costs of medicines. I shall continue, in consultation with the medical and pharmaceutical profession, to consider ways in which we can make all concerned more aware of the proper place of drugs in treatment and the need to conserve scarce National Health Service resources.