asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of operating the National Health Service in the Thanet area for 1974; how this compares with 1972 and 1973; and what is the intended expenditure for 1975.

The revenue allocation for the Canterbury/Thanet Health District in 1974–75 was £11,760,000: the provisional allocation for 1975–76 is £12,208,000. Comparable figures for 1972–73 and 1973–74 are not available because the services now include elements which in these earlier years were part of those provided by Kent County Council whose separate costs cannot be identified.