§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will give for each year since 1974–75 capital spending on hospital and community health services in net terms after deducting proceeds from land and property sales (i) in cash terms, (ii) adjusted using the gross domestic product deflator and (iii) adjusted using the relevant index of National Health Service prices.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI see no logical reason for excluding proceeds of land and property sales from figures on capital spending by the NHS and I have given these proceeds in addition to the information requested in order to give a sensible picture of capital investment in the service.
§ Mr. FreemanDecisions regarding the redeployment of financial resources released from long stay hospitals are primarily a matter for health authorities in consultation with the relevant local authorities and in the light of local needs and circumstances. Proceeds from the sale of mental handicap hospitals must be used specifically for the development of services for that client group unless there are exceptional circumstances and the Department has 163W agreed otherwise. Systematic information as to how resources have been redeployed to community services is not available centrally.