§ Mr. Cohenasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will seek to extend the provisions of section 11 of the Local Government Act 1966 to the National Health Service.
§ Mr. WaddingtonI have been asked to reply.
120Wonly to expenditure figures with care however as they do not directly relate to the growth in services actually achieved. It should not be assumed that services provided by the National Health Service can only grow in line with the additional resources which become available. Inpatient cases and day cases have recently increased more rapidly than in the 1970's. There has also been a marked improvement in the efficiency with which resources are used. Cost improvement programmes totalling £100 million were achieved in 1984–85 and further programmes amounting to some £145 million are planned for 1985–86.
Percentages of National Health Service expenditure since 1948–49 contributed respectively by the Exchequer, the NHS element of national insurance contributions, patient charges and from other sources have been given annually in the Department's written evidence to the Social Services Committee for its inquiry into public expenditure on the social services. The latest figures are published in the table on page 45 of the Committee's fourth report for the 1983–84 session (HC 395).
We have no plans to extend the provisions of section 11 in this way.