§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will estimate the number of acute beds available in the Warrington health district in 1990; and whether this estimate reflects the requirement based on the expected population at that date;
(2) whether he will increase the budget of the Warrington health distict to take account of the rapidly increasing population of the area and the two new towns.
386Wservice should expand further by 1.7 per cent. As The Guardian, quoting from the office of health economics, printed on 18 December:
Health Spending has risen under the Conservatives faster than any other time since the creation of the welfare state in 1948".
§ Mr. Hoyleasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he is giving regional health authorities on the use of private enterprise within the National Health Service; and whether he proposes to issue a circular on this matter.
§ Dr. VaughanI refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) earlier today.