asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the recent sharp drop in the price of corticosteroid drugs to the National Health Service; and what information he has as to how far this is caused by improved manufacturing methods and how far by increased competition between manufacturers tendering to the various purchasing authorities of the National Health Service.

Yes, Sir. The decrease in price of these drugs is the result of longer experience and increased efficiency of production which, as is usual, have led to increased competition between manufacturers.