§ 4. Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on expected public sector expenditure on health and welfare in 1969–70, estimated at £1,529 million at 1965 Survey Prices in Command Paper No. 2915, in the 1028 light of an expected annual increase in the gross domestic product of 3 per cent., rather than at the National Plan targets.
§ Mr. K. RobinsonI would refer the hon. Member to that part of the Budget statement in which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer outlined the action which the Government are taking in respect of long-term public expenditure programmes.—[Vol. 744, c. 990.]
§ Mr. BiffenI had in mind that part of the Budget statement when framing the Question. Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that if the avowed intentions of the Chancellor are to be realised concerning public expenditure, there will have to be a revision of this figure? In these circumstances, does not the Minister think he should take a much more generous attitude to those who are seeking to expand the private provision of welfare?
§ Mr. RobinsonNo, Sir. I think I must ask the hon. Gentleman to await the outcome of the review. The Chancellor made it clear that the pattern of the long-term expenditure programme was being examined to decide the order of priorities. Perhaps I can tell the hon. Gentleman that when I took office in October, 1964 the estimates for 1964–65 showed a provision of £56 million for hospital building in England and Wales. The figure of £85 million in the current year's estimates is an increase in real terms of 40 per cent., so we are not doing too badly.