§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds there are per 1,000 population in Great Britain and in each of the other member countries of the European Economic Community.
§ Dr. OwenThe European Commission, in its "Reports on the Development of the Social Situation in the Communities 1973" publishes the following statistical information in the table of social indicators. It should be borne in mind that there are many difficulties in the way of preparing accurate international comparative statistics and the results should be read with caution.
Beds per 1,000 population* Year United Kingdom 9.61 1971 Belgium 8.35 1971 Germany 11.20 1971 France 8.85 1969 Italy 10.55 1970 Luxembourg 11.46 1972 Netherlands 5.26 1970 Ireland 13.33 1971 Denmark 8.81 1970 * Includes clinics, psychiatric hospitals, sanatoria, nursing homes and old persons' homes.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital beds are there per 1,000 population (a) in England and (b) in each area health authority area in England.
§ Dr. OwenIt will take a little further time to assemble the necessary information. I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as I can.
§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will state how many hospital beds in each area health authority area in England are reserved for fee-paying private 426W patients; and what proportion this represents of all hospital beds in each area.
§ Dr. OwenAuthority has been given for up to 4,574 NHS places in England to be made available for private patients, but since 1968 beds in NHS hospitals are no longer specifically reserved for this purpose. All existing authorisations were given before the appointed day in terms of individual hospitals and teaching groups. I am preparing a list of authorised places for each area health authority and will write to the hon. Member.