§ 25. Mr. Chapmanasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the increase in expenditure in real terms in the National Health Service in England between 1978–79 and 1984–85; and what are the comparative figures of the four Thames regional health authorities collectively and the other regions.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeExpenditure on the National Health Service increased between 1978–79 and 1984–85 by 20.5 per cent. in real terms. Over the same period revenue expenditure by health authorities increased by 14.7 per cent., within which the increase for the four Thames regions, including the postgraduate special health authorities, was 9.8 per cent. and that for the remaining regions 17.4 per cent. Thames regions received less than other parts of the country as part of our policy of achieving a fairer distribution of resources in line with the approach set out in the resource allocation working party report in 1976. Figures for 1984–85 are still provisional.
§ 33. Mr. Marlowasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average real rate of increase in expenditure on (a) the National Health Service and (b) social security per taxpayer since 1979.
§ Mr. FowlerThe average real rate of increase in expenditure per income tax payer since 1979 has been 4.6 per cent. per year for the National Health Service and 6.4 per cent. per year for Social Security.
General taxation is not the only source of finance for the National Health Service and Social Security: in 110W 1983–84, 14 per cent. of National Health Service expenditure and about 50 per cent. of social security expenditure were financed by national insurance contributions and patient charges and national insurance contributions respectively.