HC Deb 22 February 1972 vol 831 cc243-4W
30. Mr. Sydney Chapman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many, and what proportion of, local health authorities have had plans approved by him to operate a comprehensive family planning service, as provided for in the National Health Service (Family Planning) Act, 1967.

Sir K. Joseph

At 31st March, 1971, 70 local health authorities in England out of 158 reported a family planning service in both medical and non-medical cases including a service for the unmarried.

Dr. Stuttaford

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total expenditure on family planning services from Government funds in England and Wales, including rate support grant, urban aid programmes, prescriptions and hospital provision and other funds in the years 1968–69, 1969–70 and 1970–71; and what is the estimated expenditure from these Government funds in 1971–72.

Mr. Alison

I regret that not all the information is available. The elements of expenditure from Government funds on rate support grant, the pharmaceutical service and the hospital service that relate to family planning services are not separately identifiable. Central Government grants to voluntary bodies are as follows:

Estimated
1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72
£20,000 £30,000

Government specific grants to local authorities in relation to family planning are:

Estimated
1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72
£6,250 £8,640 £29,510

Local authority expenditure over the last three years was set out in my reply to the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher) on 18th January. Provision has been made for local authority expenditure in England and Wales in 1972–73 to be three times that of 1970–71, and present indications are that this will be achieved.—[Vol. 829, c. 118–21.]