§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many magnetic resonance imaging machines 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 (i) purchased by 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, including the United States, Japan, Sweden, France and the Federal Republic of Germany.
§ Mr. FreemanAvailable information indicates that there are 19 magnetic resonance imaging machines currently installed in England and Wales, of which four are owned by the private sector and 15 are operated partially or entirely within the National Health Service.
The source of funding for the purchase of these 15 was as follows:
Number Purchased by health authorities 1 Purchased by Department of Health and other Government agencies 3 Purchased by public appeal and the National Health Service 1 Purchased by public appeal and Government agencies 1 Purchased by public appeal and donation 9 Information on the number of machines installed in other western countries is only available up to September 1988 and is limited; estimates suggest a total of 1,300 in the United States of America, 275 in Japan, seven in Sweden and 85 in West Germany. We have currently no details of the number installed in France.