§ Mr. Dobsonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the increased demographic demand on the hospital and community health services in each year since 1970.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeDemographic demand on the hospital and community health services is estimated, on the basis used in successive public expenditure White Papers, and using 1981–82 estimated expenditure per head by age group, to have increased as follows:
Per cent. 1971–72 0.1 1972–73 0.0 1973–74 -0.1 1974–75 0.0 1975–76 0.0 1976–77 0.2 1977–78 0.3 1978–79 0.9 1979–80 1.2 1980–81 0.9 1981–82 0.3 1982–83 0.5 1983–84 0.5 Figures for 1981–82 and 1982–83 are lower than given in previous answers because the actual numbers of births were lower than forecast. These are expenditure-based estimates of annual increases in demograhic pressure on the services, but the Government expects authorities to create extra resources from efficiency gains as well as from increased spending.