HL Deb 01 February 1984 vol 447 cc755-6WA
Lord Wigoder

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What is the total expenditure on the National Health Service in England for the most recent year for which figures are available; within that total figure the cost of administration of the service; and within that cost of administration, the approximate proportions arising from:

  1. (a) central health department expenditure;
  2. (b) regional health department expenditure;
  3. (c) expenditure by RHAs;
  4. (d) expenditure by area and/or district authorities;
  5. (e) expenditure by boards of governors;
  6. (f) expenditure by special authorities; and what are the comparable figures for Scotland and Wales.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health and Social Security (Lord Glenarthur)

Information is not available in the precise form requested, but the following information for 1982–83 may be helpful. It should be borne in mind that health services are organised somewhat differently in the three countries. I am afraid the figures are based on such a different basis for each tier of the service that comparisons between them are of little value.

EXPENDITURE BY HEALTH DEPARTMENT AND HEALTH AUTHORITIES
£m England %(per cent) £m Scotland % (per cent) £m Wales % (per cent)
Administration 456 3.8 63 3.9 29 3.9
Other 11,452 96.2 1,557 96.1 725 96.1
Total 11,908 100.0 1,620 100.0 754 100.0
ADMINISTRATION EXPENDITURE BY MANAGEMENT TIER
% (per cent) % (per cent) % (per cent)
Health Department 17 10 10
Regional Health Authorities 15 N/A N/A
District Health Authorities/Health Boards 67 87 76
Special Health Authorities and Boards of Governors etc 1 3 14
Total 100 100 100

Notes:

1. The figures for administration by the central health departments are prepared on a slightly different basis from those for health authorities and include some estimation.

2. For health authorities, where the figures are derived from annual accounts submitted to the central departments, administration includes their headquarters costs only. General administration and clerical support at operational levels is excluded.