§ 11. Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the gross domestic product was spent on the National Health Service in the most recent year for which figures are available; and how this compares with the percentage in 1978.
§ Mr. FowlerThe most recent year for which figures are available is 1982, when 5.4 per cent. of the United Kingdom gross domestic product was spent on the National Health Service. That compares with 4.8 per cent. in 1978.
§ Mr. KnoxDoes my right hon. Friend agree that those figures show clearly the higher priority given to the National Health Service by the Conservatives than by the Labour Government?
§ Mr. FowlerYes, they show exactly that. They show that we are spending more on the National Health Service than any other Government in history, and also treating more patients.
§ Mr. PavittHow does the Secretary of State reconcile the success stories with which he continually regales the House with the facts that we all know from our own areas? Is he aware that the North-West Thames health authority is seeking fully or partially to close 30 hospitals, including the House of Commons hospital—Westminster hospital? Is he further aware that £1.2 million allocated to the Central Middlesex hospital in my area nine months ago has been stopped, with the result that the hospital is now taking only emergency cases for acute beds? How does the Minister reconcile the success that he claims with the terrible impact of his cuts on patient care?
§ Mr. FowlerAny closure proposals by the North-West Thames authority would have to come to Ministers. Nothing in any strategic document could possibly alter that. As for the figures, I am sure that the hon. Gentleman, with his customary fairness, will acknowledge that the Government have increased spending on the Health Service and that spending is now 17 per cent. higher than the level that we inherited in 1978–79.
§ Sir Anthony GrantI welcome the increased spending on the Health Service, but does my right hon. Friend agree that the benefit would be greater if more hospitals followed the example of the Hinchingbrooke hospital, which serves my constituents, in privatising cleaning services, thus saving £200,000 per year, which can then be spent on essential medical services?
§ Mr. FowlerAs I said in answer to an earlier question, we favour the policy of contracting out and competitive tendering because we believe that it will make the Health Service more effective.
§ Mr. DobsonDoes the Secretary of State accept that health spending has increased as a proportion of GDP because GDP itself has decreased? Does he agree that health spending in this country still represents a lower proportion of GDP than in most other developed countries and that, despite all the Government's statistical waffle, throughout the entire country — including the areas represented by Ministers—hospitals and wards are being closed, new hospitals are left empty and nurses and doctors are unemployed?
§ Mr. FowlerThe hon. Gentleman's assumption about GDP is just plain wrong. Between 1978 and 1982 GDP rose by 0.4 per cent. while the NHS share rose by 0.6 per cent. Health spending by virtually all European countries is between 5 and 6 per cent. of public spending. The proportion of GDP is increased by private spending on health in those countries. I thought that the hon. Gentleman was foremost among the opponents of private health spending.