§ 21. Ms CorstonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what precentage of households have an income which is less than half the average national household income; and what was the comparable figure for 1979.
§ Mr. BurtIn 1979, half average national household income was £86 before housing costs and £73 after housing costs, in 1991 prices. The percentage of households with income less than this was 8 per cent. and 10 per cent. respectively. In 1990–91, the latest date for which information is available, half average national household income was £118 before housing costs and £101 after housing costs. The percentage of households with income less than this was 23 per cent. and 27 per cent. respectively. The percentage of households below half of the 1979 average household income held constant was lower in 1990–91 than in 1979.
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§ Dr. Mawhinney[holding answer 24 February 1994]: The information is shown in the table. Family health services authorities manage the introduction of general practitioner fundholding, the monitoring of GP prescribing, and the development of clinical audit in primary care —all initiatives aimed at improving the effectiveness of patient care and value for money. In 1992–1993 FHSA administrative expenditure represented only 2.5 per cent. of the £6.5 billion of taxpayers' money spent on the FHS.