HC Deb 07 April 1971 vol 815 c167W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the ratio of doctors to population in the Federal Republic of Germany, derived from international sources; and how this compares with the equivalent ratio in the United Kingdom;

(2) what is the ratio of doctors to population in Italy, derived from international sources; and how this compares with the equivalent ratio in the United Kingdom.

Sir K. Joseph

According to European Economic Community Basic Statistics the ratio of doctors to 100,000 inhabitants in the Federal Republic of Germany and in Italy was 148 and 171, respectively, at the end of 1967. The ratio for the United Kingdom in 1967 was of the order of 120 per 100,000 inhabitants. These ratios may, however, not be truly comparable because, for example, the figure for Italy includes, I understand, dentists who are medically qualified.