§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the level of expenditure on the National Health Service each year since 1955; what has been the real increase each year in terms of (a) the retail price index and (b) National Health Service pay and prices; and what was the level of National Health Service expenditure each year as a percentage of gross national product.
§ Mr. Kenneth Clarke[pursuant to his reply, 3 June 1985, c. 108]: The table sets out total gross expenditure (current and capital) on the National Health Service in England for each year since 1971–72. Comparable expenditure figures are not available for earlier years. Percentage changes in real terms are measured by the gross domestic product deflator. As the hon. Member has specifically requested figures deflated by the retail price index, and by National Health Service pay and prices, these are also given, but we do not accept that either of these sets of figures is a sensible measure of real increases in expenditure.
Per cent. 1980 5.3 1981 5.5 1982 5.4 1983 5.6 None of these figures measures the level of service delivered to patients. Recent increases in efficiency have added considerably to the resources available for health care. For example, health authorities put forward cost improvement programmes totalling £100 million in 1984–85 and further programmes amounting to about £150 million are planned for 1985–86.