§ Mr. Harry GreenwayTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much cash is currently being spent on the national health service; what was the figure for the year to May 1979 in real and actual terms; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellExpenditure figures for England are available on a financial year basis only. This year gross spending on the NHS in England will be £23.7 billion compared with £6.6 billion, or £.16.5 billion in today's prices in 1978–79. This represents a real terms increase of nearly 44 per cent.