HC Deb 14 May 1991 vol 191 c129W
22. Dr. Goodson-Wickes

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much was spent on the national health service in 1979, and how much this year.

Mr. Dorrell

This year expenditure on the national health service in England is expected to be some £26.6 billion, a real-terms increase of 51 per cent. over the 1978–79 figure of £6.5 billion.

26. Mr. Watts

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the current proportion of gross domestic product that is being spent on health; and what the comparable figure was in 1979.

Mr. Dorrell

Total United Kingdom national health service spending as a proportion of GDP was 5.2 per cent. in 1989 compared with 4.7 per cent. in 1979.