§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the percentage change in the total expenditure on the National Health Service for each year since 1970, expressed (a) in money terms, (b) deflated by the retail price index and (c) deflated to take account of the movement of National Health Service pay and prices.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe figures for England for each complete financial year for which figures are readily available are as follows. These show the very substantial cost of NHS expansion since 1978–79 and in the resources made available to the service. Expenditure figures of this kind take no account of increased efficiency.
Annual percentage change over previous year Cash Increase Deflated by retail price index Deflated by NHS pay and prices 1970–71 Base Base Base 1971–72 13.2 3.6 3.6 1972–73 14.0 6.5 5.1 1973–74 13.6 2.8 3.5 1974–75 32.2 12.2 1.2 1975–76 31.7 5.6 2.6 1976–77 14.2 -1.0 1.1 1977–78 10.5 -3.0 0.9 1978–79 13.5 4.7 2.3 1979–80 19.5 3.2 -0.1 1980–81 28.6 10.6 1.2 1981–82 12.5 0.9 3.4 1982–83 8.7 1.6 1.2