§ Mr. Nicholas WintertonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what was the estimated percentage change in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NHS, for hospital and community health services expenditure in 1991–92;
(2) what was the estimated percentage change in expenditure in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NI-IS, on family practitioner services current in 1991–92;
(3) what was the percentage change in estimated current expenditure in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NHS, on local authority personal social services in 1991–92;
(4) what was the estimated percentage change in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NHS, in total NHS expenditure in 1991–92;
(5) what was the percentage change in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NHS, for health and community health services current expenditure in 1990–91;
(6) what was the percentage change in expenditure in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NHS, on family practitioner services current in 1990–91;
(7) what was the estimated percentage change in current expenditure in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NHS, on local authority personal social services in 1990–91;
(8) what was the percentage change in real terms, adjusted for pay and price increases in the NHS, in total NHS expenditure in 1990–91.
§ Mr. Dorrell[holding answer 9 December 1991]: Column A of the table shows the estimated percentage change in hospital and community health services current, family health services current, total national health service and total personal social services expenditure adjusted for changes in input unit costs. Figures on this basis for 1991–92 are not yet available.
Changes in input volumes are however an inadequate guide to the level of services the NHS can be expected to achieve, since they do not reflect the continuing success of NHS management in increasing the efficiency with which it uses resources.
Columns B and C therefore give the percentage change in expenditure for each of the programmes for 1990–91 and 1991–92 (estimated) in real terms that is after adjustment by the gross domestic product deflator.
A B C Percentage change in expenditure in 1990–91 after having been adjusted for changes in input unit costs Percentage change in expenditure after having been adjuster GDP deflator in 1990–91 1991–92 estimate Gross HCHS Current 5.0 4.0 6.2 Gross FHS Current —0.6 4.2 3.0 Gross NHS Current 2.5 3.3 5.2 Net PSS Current 3.3 3.6 2.6 Note:
Calculated against the existing indicics of HCHS and FHS in service inflation. These are however currently under review.