§ Mr. Ryanasked the Minister of Health what was the cost of providing food to patients in National Health Service hospitals in the most recent year this was calculated; and what proportion of total expenditure on the National Health Service it represented in that year.
§ Mr. K. Robinson:The information is not available but the cost of provisions for both patients and staff in England and Wales in the year ended 31st March, 1967 was about £44.6 million, representing about 3.5 per cent. of the total expenditure on the National Health Service and about 6.7 per cent. of that on the hospital service.