§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many computerised tomography scanners are currently installed in England and Wales; how many are owned(a) by the private sector and (b) by the National Health Service; of the latter, how many were purchased by (i) health authorities and (ii) provided by private gift or public subscription; and if he will make available any information at his disposal on the number of such machines installed in other western countries at his disposal including the United States, Japan, Sweden, France and the Federal Republic of Germany.
§ Mr. FreemanLatest information indicates that there are 198 CT scanners currently installed in England and Wales, of which 29 are owned by the private sector and 169 by the National Health Service. Our best estimates suggest that 61 per cent. of these scanners were purchased by health authorities and 39 per cent. by private gift or public subscription.
Available information on the number of machines installed in other western countries is limited; estimates suggest a total of 3,600 in the United States of America, 3,000 in Japan, 450 in West Germany and 200 in France. We have currently no details of the number in Sweden.