§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Health whether he can give the number of State, municipal and voluntary hospitals, respectively, and the annual amount expended on each category in this country?
§ Mr. ElliotThere are only two State Hospitals, namely institutions for mental defectives, under my control, the expenditure upon them in 1937–38 being £80,047.
In 1938, the total number of hospitals owned by local authorities in England and Wales, including sanatoria, maternity homes, mental hospitals and institutions for mental defectives was 1,432. The approximate expenditure thereon in the year ended 31st March, 1937, the latest year for which figures are available, was £25,631,000, including £1,932,594 for loan charges in respect of capital expenditure.
In 1937 (the latest year for which figures are available), the number of voluntary hospitals in England and Wales, including sanatoria and mental hospitals, was 984, but I have no information as to the total annual expenditure.