§ Mrs. Margaret EwingTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what information he has on the proportion of the gross domestic product in each of the countries of the European Community and Norway and Sweden which is spent on health; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe information required is in the table:
Total Expenditure on Health as a proportion of GDP (1987): EC Countries, Norway and Sweden Per cent. Belgium 7.2 Denmark 6.0 France 8.5 Germany 8.1 Greece 5.3 Ireland 7.4 Italy 7.2 Luxembourg 7.5 Netherlands 8.5 Norway 7.5 Portugal 6.4 Spain 6.0 Sweden 9.2 United Kingdom 6.0 The proportion of GDP spent on health care is indicative neither of the efficiency with which resources are used, nor of health outcomes.