§ Mr. RaffanTo ask the Secretarty of State for Wales how many hip replacement operations were carried out in Welsh hospitals in 1979 and for the latest year for which figures are available.
820Wand what was the average spending per household on the National Health Service in Wales (i) in 1978–79 and (ii) projected for 1988–89.
Mr. WalkerThe information requested is as follows: National Health Service net expenditure in 1978–79;
Total expenditure £398.2 million Average spending per household £410.8 Planned National Health Service net provision in 1988–89:
Total provision £1,173.1 million Average spending per household £1,111.9 In reply to the hon. Member for Ogmore (Mr. Powell) on 18 January, I stated that the gross NHS expenditure in Wales is planned to increase between 1978–79 and 1988–89 from £418 per household to £1,238. This information was given to me based on the number of households in 1979. The answer above takes account of the forecast increase in households—from 969,400 in 1979 to 1,055,000 in 1988. This increase largely represents a reduction in average household size (from 2.8 to 2.6) and not a significant increase in population. Therefore, the gross NHS spending in Wales will increase on current plans from £144.1 per person in 1978–79 to £426.7 per person in 1988–89, representing a real increase of more than 39 percent.
Notes:
1. The planned provision is subject to parliamentary approval of the Supply Estimates.
2. The NHS totals include the administrative costs of the artificial limb and appliance service which will from 1 April 1988 be transferred to the Welsh Health Common Services Authority.