To ask the Secretary of State for Health what estimate he has made of the number and proportion of people aged 65 and over who have depression; what estimate he has made of the proportion of those people who have been (a) diagnosed and (b) treated; and if he will make a statement. (233809)

The Department does not have this information. However, data derived from the Business Services Authority’s Exemption Category Estimates indicate that between July 2007 to June 2008, 40.2 per cent. of items dispensed for the treatment of depression were given to people aged 60 and over. This is based on a full analysis of all prescriptions dispensed in the community.