§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the average cost of(a) an operation, (b) an out-patient attendance and (c) a one-day attendance at all the hospitals in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland in 1979 and 1986.
§ Mrs. CurrieThe nearest available figure for the average cost of an operation is the average cost per inpatient case. These figures, together with those for outpatients and day cases are shown in the table.
86/378, which is not yet in force and excludes pension age and survivors' benefits until equalisation is required in the state scheme. The steps we have taken to comply with these directives mean that equal treatment between men and women exists in most areas of working and retirement benefits; some further steps will be needed to comply with EC 86/378 and we are considering these. We have no immediate plans to introduce equal treatment in areas excluded from the directives, but changes in pension age in particular have been under consideration for some time.