§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average annual capital expenditure in real terms in the National Health Service between 1974–75 and 1978–79, inclusive and the average between 1979–80 and the latest complete year.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe average figures requested for total NHS capital at 1981–82 prices are £682 million and £632 million respectively. The comparison is misleading as it conceals a real terms reduction of over one third under the last Labour Government from the level they inherited compared with a 14 per cent. increase under this Government.