HC Deb 28 March 2000 vol 347 cc121-2W
27. Mr. Swayne

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much extra funding has been made available to the NHS since May 1997. [115176]

Mr. Denham

National Health Service net expenditure in 1996–97 was £32.9 billion. In 2000–01 NHS expenditure will be £44.2 billion, a real terms increase of 20.5 per cent. on 1996–97. By 2003–04 NHS expenditure will reach £56.4 billion, a real terms increase of 42.7 per cent. on 1996–97.

34. Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of the United Kingdom's gross domestic product was devoted to health care(a) in 1996–97 and (b) in 2000–01; and what was the European average for those years. [115183]

Mr. Denham

In 1996–97, United Kingdom Gross National Health Service expenditure was 5.7 per cent. of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Based on the latest forecasts of GDP and planned NHS expenditure figures, for 2000–01, UK gross NHS expenditure is forecast to be 6.1 per cent. of GDP.

The Department does not collect information on health care expenditure in other European countries. It is collected by the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and can be obtained from the 1999 OECD health database.