§ 20. Mr. Tony LloydTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on Health Service spending in north-west regional and district health authorities.
§ Mr. NewtonGross revenue expenditure has increased from £382.6 million in 1978–79 to £922.8million in 1986–87. That represents an increase of 24 per cent. in real terms.
During the same period gross expenditure of £277.3 million has also been incurred on completing 32 new capital schemes within the region. With the benefit of that funding record levels of patients have been treated.
§ Mr. LloydNevertheless, does the Minister not recognise that there is a history of the health of people in my region being worse than that of people in the more 144 prosperous south-east and that that spending has done nothing to narrow the gap? When will the Government do something serious about the huge health disparities that exist in Britain?
§ Mr. NewtonI know of the hon. Gentleman's interest in this matter well enough to know that he is aware that the gap has narrowed. The north-west region is a so-called RAWP-gaining region and it has done substantially better than many others for precisely that reason.