§ Mr. AlexanderTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much spending on health has increased since 1 May 1997; and by what proportion of GDP health spending will increase by 2002. [144627]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithPlanned UK net expenditure on the NHS in 2000–01, as announced in the March 2000 budget, is £54.2 billion. This represents a real terms increase of 18 per cent. since 1997–98.
By 2002–03, total expenditure on healthcare, both public and private, in the UK is forecast to rise to 7.4 per cent. of GDP compared to 6.7 per cent. in 1997–98.