§ Mrs. BrintonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the need for further research on occupationally-based inequalities in health. [10175]
§ Ms JowellResearch on socio-economic differences in health are usually based on data derived by occupational classifications.
We have asked Sir Donald Acheson to carry out a review of inequalities in health, which will include occupationally based inequalities in health. In the light of that review the Department will assess the need for further research in this area.
Year Trusts Health authorities Family health services authorities 1988–89 — 114(212) — 1989–90 — 177(212) 175(90) 1990–91 — 104(211) 184(90) 1991–92 2(57) 53(206) 30(90) 1992–93 25(126) 89(199) 83(90) 1993–94 23(292) 67(167) 71(90) 1994–95 36(419) 65(121) 70(90) 1995–96 94(433) 92(115) 67(90) 1996–97 128(429) 59(100) — 1 The figures for 1989–90 and 1990–91 refer to Family Practitioner Committees. 1. The figures in brackets identify the total number of trusts/authorities in the relevant year.
2. Information is from the published accounts except for 1996–97 where the figures are from the Quarter 4 monitoring information.
3. Trusts were first established in 1991 and there are therefore no figures for earlier years.
4. Health authority figures for the period 1988–89 to 1995–96 include District, Regional and Special Health Authorities of the London postgraduate teaching hospitals.
5. The 1996–97 Health Authority figures are for merged health authorities (previously separate District Health Authorities and Family Health Service Authorities).
6. HA Accounts before 1991–92 are not comparable due to organisational changes.
7. Figures for earlier years, and in respect of FPCs for 1988–89 are not readily available.
8. Changes in accounting policies mean that not all years accounts are prepared on a comparable basis.
§ Mrs. Virginia BottomleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what was the increase in funding for the NHS in each of the past 10 years in(a) cash (b) real and (c) percentage terms; and what are those figures for 1997–98. [10087]
§ Mr. MilburnThe information requested is set out in the table.
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National health service increases in funding Year Increase in cash (£ million) Increase in real terms (1996–97 prices) (£ million)1 Percentage growth (real terms)1 1987–88 +1,495 +1,036 4.3 1988–89 +1,745 +889 3.5 1989–90 +1,442 +206 0.8 1990–91 +2,471 +1,079 4.1 1991–92 +3,027 +1,841 6.7 1992–93 +2,617 +1,712 5.9 1993–94 +971 +170 0.6 1994–95 +1,629 +1,259 4.1 1995–96 +1,388 +564 1.7 1996–97 +1,196 +313 1.0 1997–98 +1,359 +285 0.9 1 GDP deflator of 2 July 1997. The Economic and Social Research Council has recently assessed the need for research on socio-economic inequalities in health. It is currently commissioning a £4 million programme of research. The Department is currently commissioning research which will evaluate steps that the national health service has taken to reduce inequalities in health, including socio-economic inequalities.