HC Deb 19 November 1971 vol 826 c239W
Mr. Pavitt

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of hospital beds available daily in the National Health Service, the average number occupied and the percentage of under-occupancy represented by the difference.

Mr. Alison

The numbers are as follows:

England 1970
Average daily number of available beds 423,621
Average daily bed occupation 351,251

This means that the proposition of unoccupied beds is, on average, 17.08 per cent.