§ Mr. Denzil Freethasked the Minister of Health what was the percentage of gross National Health Service expenditure borne by the Exchequer for each of the years between 1947–48 and 1959–60; and what he estimates will be the percentage for 1960–61.
§ Mr. Powell:The percentages are as follows (expenditure by, and grants to, local health authorities have been excluded throughout):
43W
1948–49 74 1949–50 79 1950–51 84 1951–52 83 1952–53 82 1953–54 81 1954–55 82 1955–56 82 1956–57 83 1957–58 80 1958–59 75 1959–60 75 1960–61 (latest estimate) 76
§ Dr. Strossasked the Minister of Health what would be the cost of the National Health Service in England and Wales for 1959–60 if the proportion of national resources devoted to it was the same as it was in 1949–50.
§ Mr. Powell:On the basis of the gross national product and the gross cost of the services in the National Health Service Appropriation Accounts, excluding local health authority services, the figure would be about £709 million.