§ 16. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Health what was the average amount per person spent within the National Health Service on health in Great Britain for the last three years to a convenient date.
§ Mr. PowellIncluding local health services and central administration, the figures to the nearest shilling are £15 13s. in the financial year 1958–59, £16 15s. in 1959–60 and £18 10s. in 1960–61.
§ Mr. PavittIs the Minister aware that that figure of £18 compares with a figure of £56 per head in the United States of America, and that if we wish to have parity with the United States we shall need to spend another £325 million a year on the National Health Service? In view of the fact that in the year we lost 282½ million days in production because of ill-health, will the Minister not consider spending more on the National Health Service, especially on things other than the hospital service, to that end?
§ Mr. PowellI do not think that international comparisons of this sort are much of an indication of the amount of service which is being given per head in the respective countries.