HC Deb 24 February 1981 vol 999 c340W
Mr. Woodall

asked the Secretary of Stale for Social Services what was the expenditure on surgical instruments and appliances by the National Health Service in each of the last five years.

Sir George Young

Information in respect of surgical instruments is not kept as a separate item and could not be obtained without disproportionate expense. Information on surgical appliances is not maintained centrally, but approximate totals of the value of appliances supplied by the National Health Service in England and Wales are as follows:

£ million
1976 15
1977 17
1978 19
1979 23
1980 27