§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the annual average percentage growth in National Health Service expenditure to take account of (a) changes in population structure and (b) developments in medical technology.
§ Mr. John MacKayAbout 0.7 per cent. and 0.5 per cent. respectively.
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many beds in the National Health Service are unused due to lack of funds to health boards; and if he will provide a breakdown per health board.
§ Mr. John MacKayThere were 294 beds out of use in Health Service hospitals in Scotland at the beginning of November where health boards saw a lack of funds as the prime reason for the beds being unused. The figures for individual health boards were:
Health Board No. of beds Argyll and Clyde 98 Borders 10 Greater Glasgow 47 Highland 62 Lanarkshire 77 Total 294
§ Mr. Ernie Rossasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the budget allocated to Tayside health board in each of the past three years; and if he will express the figures also at constant prices.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe allocations to Tayside health board for its net revenue and locally managed capital expenditure on hospital and community health services in the past three years are set out in the table. Major building projects are financed directly by the Scottish Home and Health Department; funds for these projects do not form part of allocations to health boards.
£'000 1980–81 99,134 1981–82 108,124 1982–83 114,017 The allocations, which are on a cash basis, are not available in terms of constant prices.