Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, in each year since 2010, how many prescriptions were written for (1) oral contraceptives, (2) intrauterine systems for the purpose of contraception, (3) contraceptive injections, (4) contraceptive sub-dermal implants, (5) emergency hormonal contraceptives, and (6) intrauterine devices for the purpose of emergency contraception, in each clinical commissioning group area.

Information is not collected centrally on the number of prescriptions written. However, information is available on the number of prescription items dispensed.

A series of tables representing the four financial years 2010-11 to 2013-14, have been placed in the Library. These provide information on each of the categories of contraceptives requested, apart from intrauterine devices for the purpose of emergency contraception, as information is not held on whether intrauterine devices are for emergency or non-emergency use, however, totals for all intrauterine devices are included within the category of intrauterine systems for the purpose of contraception.

The tables are based on ePACT data, representing prescriptions written in England and dispensed in the community in the United Kingdom. This does not include supply through community clinics. Information is not available for Q1 of 2010. Commissioning care group areas were formed in April 2013. Information prior to this time is in the form of primary care trusts. Contraceptives are defined products listed within British National Formulary (BNF) Section 7.3 Contraceptives.