§ Mr. MaudeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health by how much health spending would increase in(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01, (c) 2001–02 and (d) 2002–03 if the real annual rate of increase were the same as the average rate of increase over the period 1978–79 to 1997–98. [46433]
§ Mr. MilburnThe real terms growth in National Health Service total expenditure for the period 1978–79 and 1997–98 was 2.9 per cent. net and 3.0 per cent. gross. On that basis, the increases in expenditure would be as set out in the table.
Projected increases in NHS expenditure £ million Years Net increase Gross increase 1999–2000 2,035 2,169 2000–2001 2,110 2,251 2001–2002 2,224 2,376 2002–2003 2,347 2,508 Note:
The gross domestic product deflators published on 17 March 1998 have been used for the years 1999–2000 and 2000–01. A deflator of 2.5 per cent. has been used for later years, in line with that for 2000–01