HC Deb 27 February 1964 vol 690 cc119-20W
Sir 'I'. Beamish

asked the Minister of Health if he will give his estimate of the approximate increased annual cost of abolishing all National Health Service charges.

Mr. Braine

The estimated revenue in England and Wales from National Health Service charges in the current year, 1963.64, is £46.4 million. This includes £4.7 million charged by local health authorities but excludes payments by private patients in hospitals. In addition to the loss of this revenue, expenditure, of which no reliable estimate can be made, would be incurred on items now costing less than the charges.