§ Mr. Redwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give figures for the last three years showing (a) the increase in spending on the National Health Service in England and Wales and (b) hospital bed reductions in England and Wales.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is as follows: 251W
NHS Expenditure, England (Gross) £ million Growth in cash percentage 1983–84 12,921 — 1984–85 13,871 7.4 1985–86 14,676 5.8 1986–87 15,762 7.4
Average number of beds available daily in NHS hospitals in England Beds Percentage change 1983 343,091 — 1984 334,513 -2.5 1985 325,487 -2.7 1986 315,817 -3.0 The information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
§ Mr. Redwoodasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what information he has as to any correlation between higher National Health Service spending and areas of rapid population growth;
(2) if he will make it his policy to allocate extra national Health Service moneys to areas of high housing and population growth; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonResources are allocated to regional health authorities using the method recommended by the Resource Allocation Working Party. The underlying objective of this approach is to secure progressively through resource allocation equal opportunity of access to health care for people in equal need. The population served by each region and projected population growth are important factors in this process and bear directly on the distribution of resources between regions.