HC Deb 06 December 1971 vol 827 cc251-3W
Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will, as part of his review of pensions policy, enter into discussions with private insurance companies offering schemes designed to cover spells in hospital with a view

Mr. Alison

The available information is as follows:

DETAILS OF BED OCCUPANCY IN NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE HOSPITALS—ENGLAND, 1970
Condition Average daily occupied beds Percentage of total occupied beds
Mental Illness 106,450 30.3
Mental Handicap 54,464 15.5
Obstetrics 15,715 4.5
Therapeutic abortion 666† 0.19
Alcoholism or drug addiction* Not separately available
Conditions caused by war, etc.‡ 241 0.05
* Included in beds under mental illness.
† 1969 figures.
‡ Relates to war pensioners occupying National Health Service beds on 31st December, 1970.

Mr. Michael Cocks

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the most recent calculations made by his Department for the average number of spells and lengths of stay in non-mental hospitals under the National Health Service, by age and sex.

Mr. Alison

The following is the information:

to securing a voluntary agreement that any newspaper or magazine advertisement for such a scheme shall include a table prepared by his Department of the average numbers of spells and lengths of stay in non-mental hospitals under the National Health Service, by age and sex;

(2) what advice has been offered by his Department in connection with his re- view f pensions policy to the general public or any organisation on the value of private insurance schemes designed to cover spells in hospital;

(3) what studies have been undertaken in connection with his review of pensions policy by his Department into private insurance schemes designed to cover spells in hospital on offer to the general public.

Sir K. Joseph

The Government's pension review and my proposals published in "Strategy for Pensions" deal with State and occupational pensions for retirement and related matters. Private insurance schemes related to spells in hospital are not relevant.