§ Mr. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many hospital in-patients were treated in National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1970;
(2) what has been the size of the hospital waiting list National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1970;
(3) how many beds there were in National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1970;
(4) how many hospital out-patients were treated in National Health Service hospitals in each year since 1970.
§ Mr. WhitneyThe required information is given in the table:
67W
NHS hospitals in England Thousands Year Average daily number of available beds In-patient cases In-patient waiting list at 31 March In-patient waiting list at 30 September Total out-patient attendances 1970 423.6 5,011.7 *539.7 *539.7 32,354.8 1971 419.6 5,170.8 *519.3 *519.3 33,129.2 1972 412.7 5,223.0 *496.6 *496.6 33,243.5 1973 403.5 5,132.3 *542.1 *542.1 33,317.9 1974 396.2 5,171.7 *508.4 *508.4 33,352.1 1975 387.6 4,975.8 *532.6 519.5 30,947.5 1976 383.1 5,254.6 583.9 588.3 32,396.4 1977 375.9 5,345.0 595.5 591.1 33,282.2 1978 369.2 5,370.3 603.2 628.4 33,950.3 1979 361.7 5,400.1 752.4 695.7 34,099.7 1980 356.0 5,670.0 664.9 635.9 35,243.0 1981 351.7 5,759.9 628.3 619.4 35,571.4 1982 348.1 5,719.6 622.5 725.9 35,651.2 1983 343.1 6,018.6 726.2 703.8 36,519.6 1984 334.5 6,177.5 692.9 682.6 37,042.7 1985 n/a n/a 674.5 661.2 n/a * 30 June. n/a = Not yet available.