§ Mr. ChurchillTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will detail the increase in the cost of the National Health Service over the years, both in terms of percentage of gross domestic product and of the cost to the average family in constant 1988 prices.
§ Mr. Newton[holding answer 25 January 1988]: The information is as follows:
NHS gross expenditure United Kingdom £ million (1987–88 prices) Percentage of GDP1 Cost per annum per family of four2£ 1979–80 16,248 4.9 1,157 1979–80 16,531 4.8 1,176 1980–81 18,102 5.3 1,285 1981–82 18,544 5.5 1,316 1982–83 18,852 5.5 1,339 1983–84 19,106 5.4 1,356 1984–85 19,628 5.5 1,391 1985–86 19,602 5.3 1,385 1986–87 20,417 5.4 1,439 1987–88 21,454 n/a 1,508 1 ODP(E). 2 Derived from per capita spending × 4.