asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate is available to him of the extent of pilfering of National Health Service equipment or property each year.

The annual accounts of health authorities incorporate a statement of losses which includes a category "for losses of equipment and property in stores and in use due to theft, fraud or arson, etc." A consolidated statement for England appears within the statutory summarised accounts of health authorities which are published annually as a House of Commons paper (for 1984–85—the latest year published as Paper No. 411 of 1985–86).The summarised accounts of health authorities record equipment and property losses of £1,434,511 due to theft, fraud or arson, etc. in 1985–86.