asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of private out-patient attendances at National Health Service hospitals in the last year for which figures are available; and what this figure is expressed as a proportion of all outpatient attendances over the same period.

The number of private out-patient attendances at National Health Service hospitals in England during 1975, the latest year for which figures are available, was 85,000 representing 0·27 per cent. of all out-patient attendances, excluding attendances at accident and emergency departments.