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Mr. Meadowcroft
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the costing returns submitted by health authorities in England showing total current expenditure on hospitals categorised as pre-convalescent and convalescent for each year from 1979 to date.
Mr. Newton
[pursuant to his reply, 30 April 1987, c. 221–22]: The information requested is as follows.
| Year | Expenditure £ |
| 1979–80 | 13,458,656 |
| 1980–81 | 10,349,329 |
| 1981–82 | 10,758,114 |
| 1982–83 | 9,943,684 |
| 1983–84 | 9,657,117 |
| 1984–85 | 6,911,744 |
| 1985–86 | 5,500,259 |
The level and extent of provision of convalescence beds is a matter for local decision. Modern concepts of patient care and rehabilitation have resulted in a diminishing demand for convalescence in its traditional form.