§ 21. Sir Sydney ChapmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is in respect of the proportion of gross domestic product that should be spent on health. [119075]
§ Mr. DenhamIn his recent Budget statement, the Chancellor announced the largest ever increase in funding for the National Health Service in England. Over this year and the next three, NHS Expenditure will grow on average by 6.3 per cent. a year over and above inflation. This is nearly twice the historic rate of growth.
Based on our latest projections total United Kingdom healthcare expenditure will reach around 7.6 per cent. of Gross Domestic Product by 2003–04