To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the Official Report the number of National Health Service patients cared for and treated under contractual arrangements with the private sector, by specialty and regions for each year since 1979 and the cost to the regional health authorities.

[pursuant to her reply, 10 March 1988, c. 347]: Tables showing the requested information have been placed in the Library. Expenditure by specialty is not collected separately.