§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information is available to him about the rise in prices paid by the National Health Service as compared with the general rise in prices since 1979.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeSince 1979, the Health Services Price Index, which measures movements in the prices of goods and services directly bought by health authorities, has risen by nearly 60 per cent., compared to an estimated general rise in prices as measured by the GDP deflator over the same period of 52 per cent.