HC Deb 15 February 1988 vol 127 cc487-8W
Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in theOfficial Report the proportion of United Kingdom gross domestic product spending on (a) the National Health Service as a whole, (b) hospital and community health services and (c) family practitioner services, for each year from 1970 until the latest year in which figures are available.

Mr. Newton

NHS expenditure in the United Kingdom as a percentage of gross domestic product in each year since 1970 is shown in the following table. These estimates are derived from Central Statistical Office national accounts. These accounts, however, do not identify separately expenditure on the hospital and community health services or on family practitioner services. The figures used in the table for these services are estimates derived from departmental records, which are compiled on a financial year basis. Comparable data for the United Kingdom for years before 1978–79 are not readily available.

Percentage of GDP spent
Year NHS 12HCHS FPS
1970 3.8
1971 3.8
1972 4.0
1973 3.9
1974 4.8
1975 5.1
1976 5.0
1977 4.9
1978 4.8
1979 4.8 3 3
1980 5.3 44.2 1.1
1981 5.5 4.3 1.2
1982 5.4 4.2 1.2
1983 5.7 4.5 1.2
1984 5.5 4.2 1.3
1985 5.4 4.2 1.2
1986 5.5 4.3 1.2
1 Including expenditure on central health and miscellaneous services (separate figures for United Kingdom not readily available).
2 The adjustment from financial year data to calendar year has been estimated using Departmental records.
3 Comparable data for 1979 and earlier years are not readily available.
4 Estimated.