§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services, for each year since 1970 what was the total number of National Health Service pay beds, the total number of paying patients occupying these beds, the beds' average occupancy rate and the income raised by the use of the beds, expressed first in gross terms, secondly after allowing for movement in the retail price index and thirdly after allowing for movement in National Health Service pay and prices.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSuch information as is available is shown in the following table:
413W
Year Authorised pay beds at 31 December Deaths and discharges of private patients Average daily occupation by private patients Pay bed income £ million (financial year beginning 1 April) Gross Revalued* Revalued† 1973 4,569 114,367 2,383 13.7 46.1 57.9 1974 4,535 111,418 2,245 15.3 43.7 47.4 1975 4,150 96,288 1,840 19.6 45.0 47.3 1976 4,150 93,731 1,745 24.6 48.9 52.0 1977 3,213 92,602 1,678 27.0 47.0 52.5 1978 2,666 92,242 1,608 28.4 45.7 50.4 1979 2,402 91,128 1,508 33.3 46.3 49.1 1980 2,402 98,565 1,514 42.6 50.9 49.1 1981 2,677 96,934 1,469 49.3 52.9 52.6 1982 2,929 n/a n/a 46.2 46.2 46.2 * Income after allowing for movement in the Retail Price Index as at September 1982. †Income after allowing for movement in NHS Pay and Prices at September 1982. n/a=Not yet available.