§ 25 Mr. Marquandasked the Minister of Health his estimate of the increased expenditure incurred by the regional hospital boards in the financial year 1952–53 in respect of salaries of nursing staffs.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodAbout £4½ million over the corresponding figure for 1951–52.
§ Mr. MarquandAs the cost of salaries is about 60 per cent, of the cost of the hospital service, does not this suggest that an additional £13 million for the entire Health Service will only be sufficient to keep pace with the rise in salaries and other costs?
§ Mr. MacleodAs a matter of fact, there is quite a substantial offset from board and lodging charges. I am not sure if the right hon. Gentleman put the right year down in his Question, but the figures I have given are for the financial year 1952–53. They were, therefore, fully taken into account as a known commitment in the financial year 1953–54.