§ Mr. Frank FieldTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the annual cost of the National Health Service, and if he will average this sum out over(a) each person in work, (b) each person in work or in receipt of an occupational pension, and (c) each citizen over the age of 18 years.
§ Mr. Mellor[holding answer 1 November 1988]: The available information is as follows:
England 1987/88 (£ million) Total gross expenditure on the NHS 17,575 NHS expenditure for each person in work 833 NHS expenditure for each resident person over the age of 18 years 483