asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate (1) the quantity of the drug, cortisone, imported into the country in 1951; (2) what steps he has taken to increase stocks thereof so as to meet as far as possible present requirements, and (3) if he is in the position to control its price at a reasonable level.

I am not in a position to indicate the quantity of the drug, cortisone, imported into the country in 1951.

The Deputy will appreciate that cortisone is a new drug and that the quantities available for distribution in the early stages are limited. This country, I understand, has, up to the present, got more than its proportionate share so far as European countries are concerned, and I am further informed that the quota available to us has recently been increased considerably.

The retail price of the drug depends initially on the price charged by the manufacturers, and I have no information which would lead me to believe that profits being taken in this country by the distributors are out of line with those in the drug trade generally. As the quantity manufactured increases, the price will decline, as happens with every new drug, and already the price has declined substantially.

Would the Minister agree that having regard to the remarkable claims made for this drug, no opportunity should be ignored by which our stocks may be increased?

I should like to ask the Minister, if he considers it a fair supplementary, has any cortisone been made available to local authority hospitals yet?

Yes, in some cases.