§ Mr. HealdTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what proportion of the NHS budget was spent on mental health in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) the current year to date. [13855]
§ Jacqui SmithSpend on mental health services as a percentage of total national health service spend was 12.3 per cent. in 1997–98, 12.1 per cent. in 1998–99 and 12.5 per cent. in 1999–2000. Information from health authorities and NHS trusts for subsequent years is not yet available.
553WThe figure given for 1999–2000 is not directly comparable to previous years or future years, 1999–2000 represents the first year that primary care group expenditure was included in the calculation and the formula used to apportion the expenditure was based on estimated data. In future years the data for primary care groups will be more detailed and the resultant figure for percentage spend will be more accurate.