§ Mr. Robin CookTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the expenditure by district health authorities on health promotion between 1 April 1990 and 31 September 1991.
§ Mr. DorrellFinancial returns submitted to the Department by district health authorities in England for the financial year 1990–91 separately identify revenue expenditure on health promotion and education totalling some £71 million—a provisional figure at this stage. Equivalent information is not collected on an in-year basis.
317WThe expenditure recorded in the annual financial returns relates only to the direct costs of health education and promotion departments and specific campaigns organised by or on behalf of the health authorities. Some direct costs of clinical medical officers, health visitors and other health professionals (for the time they are engaged on specific health education work in the community) are included but the financial returns do not capture all expenditure related to health promotion in its broadest sense. For example, it would be impracticable to identify and cost all health education and promotional advice routinely provided during the course of hospital consultations and treatment.