§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list in rank order the levels of spending on health per head of population in each health authority in England in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99 and the estimated figures for 1999–2000. [111630]
§ Mr. Denham[holding answer 28 February 2000]: Health authority spending on health per head of population by rank for 1996–97 to 1998–99 will be placed in the Library. Expenditure estimates for 1999–2000 are not available.
Expenditure figures are from health authority audited accounts. For 1997–98 and 1998–99 the Prescription Pricing Authority rather than individual health authorities have accounted for the majority of drugs expenditure. Health authorities do not account for the majority of General Dental Service expenditure.
80WAlthough estimates by health authority are available from the Prescription Pricing Authority for drugs expenditure and from the Dental Practice Board for general dental services gross fees, these are not audited figures and they do not agree with the national audited amounts included within the health authority summarised accounts.