HC Deb 12 April 1988 vol 131 cc122-4W
Mr. Robin Cook

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what was Government spending on the hospital and community health services per household as a proportion of the average household income in 1978–79, 1982–83 and 1986–87.

Mr. Newton

[holding answer 25 February 1988]: Gross expenditure on the hospital and community health services (United Kingdom) represented 4.5, 5 and 4.5 per cent. Of average income per household in 1978–79, 1982–83 and 1986–87, respectively. However, as these figures are affected by changes in the number and composition of households, a more reliable indicator is expenditure per person which rose from £106 in 1978–78 to £198 in 1982–83 and to £249 in 1986–87.