Health Spending (Hansard, 11 March 2002)

§ Matthew Taylor
To ask the Secretary of State for Health in what year he expects United Kingdom spending on health to equal the European average; on what basis this estimate is made; and if he will make a statement. [4849]
800W

§ Mr. Hutton
I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding to this question. I refer the hon. Member to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State gave my hon. Friend the Member for Blackpool, North and Fleetwood (Mrs. Humble) on 5 March 2002,Official Report, column 192W.
The average health expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP) of European Union countries has been around 7.9 to 8 per cent. for a number of years. By 2003–04 total health spending in the US will be around 7.6 per cent. of GDP. Spending plans beyond that time will be made in the coming spending review.
This forecast is based on current national health service spending plans, and an assumption that private expenditure remains at around 1 per cent. of GDP.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health purchasing authorities which were overspent in 2000–01. [42195]

§ Mr. Hutton
The annual accounts for 2000–01 show only one health authority—Bexley and Greenwich failed to achieve financial balance. The health authority merged on 1 April 2001.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list those health service budget heads which(a) were underspent in 2000–01 and (b) are expected to be underspent in the current year, in each case showing the extent of underspend. [42194]

§ Mr. Hutton
The information requested for 2000–01 is contained in the Department of Health Appropriation Account and Expenditure Statements (HC 335–1122 February 2002). A copy is held in the Library.
Information for the current year will not be available until after the end of the financial year.

§ Mr. Andrew Turner
To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the purchasing health authorities which were headed for a current year overspend between October and December 2001, stating(a) the then estimated overspend and (b) the latest estimated overspend. [42193]

§ Mr. Hutton
By year-end we expect all health authorities to live within their agreed resource limits and not to overspend.