§ Mr. FrenchTo ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what percentage of the United Kingdom population is currently covered by private health care plans;
(2) what is her estimate of the current savings to the NHS budget as a result of patients covered by private health care plans.
§ Mr. SackvilleAbout 12 per cent. of the population are covered by private health care. It is for the individual to decide whether or not to seek private health care. The national health service will remain available to all on the basis of clinical need, not the ability to pay. It is not possible to quantify the saving to the NHS.