§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the income from charges to patients in the National Health Service in 1978–79 and each subsequent year, together with his estimate for the 284W districts which have shown the greatest percentage growth in their electorate since 1976; and what has been the percentage growth and actual figure in each case.
§ Mr. John PattenThe 20 non-metropolitan districts having the greatest percentage growth in number of electors between 1976 and 1983 are shown in the following table:
current year and 1984–85; and if he will express the figures as a percentage of total spending on the National Health Service in each year.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 8 December 1983, c. 231]: The information is as follows:
Year Charge income cash £ million Percentage of total gross NHS expenditure 1978–79 144 2.2 1979–80 183 2.4 1980–81 254 2.6 1981–82 308 2.8 1982–83 364 3.0 1983–84 400 3.1 Overall, the increase in charge income has represented less than one-twentieth of the total cash increase in the period. An estimate for 1984–85 will be included in the forthcoming White Paper on public expenditure.