§ Mr. Andrew F. Bennettasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the Health Service price index used by his Department, indicating the index's movements over the last five years, and the basis on which the index is calculated.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe Health Service price index is produced monthly by the Department. It is based on the pattern of non-staff expenditure in the hospital and community health service. The HSPI is made available to health authorities and is sent to other interested bodies on request. A copy is placed each month in the Library of the House. The index has been improved and modified since it was introduced in November 1976 when it superseded the hospital prices index.