§ Mr. DewarTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give for each year since 1970 the number of patients on hospital in-patient waiting lists in Scotland at 30 March and 30 September of each year.
§ Mr. RifkindThe information available is set out in the table.
Number of persons on waiting lists for NHS hospitals at 31 March and 30 September, Scotland Year 31 March 30 September 1970 57,305 51,482 1971 51,675 48,066 1972 n/a 52,468 1973 n/a 61,079 1974 n/a 56,182 1975 n/a 53,770 1976 54,442 52,765 1977 53,974 54,715 1978 56,987 61,481 1979 76,968 71,247 1980 70,195 67,387 1981 67,908 65,228 1982 66,880 86,365 1983 96,933 86,338 1984 85,543 83,077 1985 79,262 77,677 1986 81,249 80,732 1987 81,324 77,772 1988 67,226 63,569 1989 61,011 — The statistical system on which these figures are collected including the revision which took place in 1988 is explained in ISD Statistical Bulletin 1/88, a copy of which is in the Library.