§ 27. Mr. Eadieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total sum spent in Scotland on the National Health Service since its inception; and how much has been spent each year since 1965 to the nearest available date.
§ Mr. MillanAbout £1,880 million to 31st March, 1969. The expenditure over the last four years of this period was as follows:
§ 1965–66 £137 million, 1966–67 £153 million, 1967–68 £167 million, 1968–69 £181 million.
§ Mr. EadieWould my hon. Friend not agree that the decision taken by the Scottish Trades Union Congress yesterday to give a full backing to Labour and a Labour Government appears justified in the light of the figures he has given? Can he tell the House whether the Prime Minister has been informed about those figures, since he is addressing the Scottish Trades Union Congress today?
§ Mr. MillanI am not sure about the last point but perhaps I could send my right hon. Friend a telegram. Just to point the contrast with £181 million for 1968–69, I should point out that in the last full year for which hon. Members opposite have responsibility, 1963–64, the figure was only £111 million.
§ Mr. YoungerWill the Under-Secretary point out to his hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) that it is not surprising to find the Labour Party supported by the S.T.U.C. in view of the fact that it not only forms the greatest part of but controls the Labour Party?