§ Mr. David Watkinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated real growth in spending in the National Health Service for 1980–81 as compared with 1979–80.
§ Sir George Young: The recent public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 7841) estimated total planned gross spending on the National Health Service in Great Britain in 1980–81 to be some 3.4 per cent. higher in real terms than the provisional out-turn for 1979–80. Most of this increase is accounted for by the reduction in the planned level of spending in 1979–80 brought about by the operation of cash limits.
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