Benzodiazepines

Mr. Alex Carlile
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what quantity of benzodiazepines was prescribed via community pharmacists in England and Wales in each of the last four years for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement. [9886]

Mr. Malone
The available information for England is shown in the table. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.------
|Year|
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|1991|
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|1992|
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|1993|
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|1994|
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The data are from the "Prescription Costs Analysis" (PCA), are for England only and are based on the number of prescription items dispensed by community pharmacists and appliance contractors.