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Ministers rebuked on NHS spending claim | Ministers rebuked on NHS spending claim |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A watchdog has called on ministers to correct claims the coalition has increased NHS spending in England. | |
The UK Statistics Authority upheld a complaint by Labour about government claims the NHS budget had increased in real-terms in the past two years. | The UK Statistics Authority upheld a complaint by Labour about government claims the NHS budget had increased in real-terms in the past two years. |
The watchdog found the best-available Treasury data suggested real-terms health spending was lower in 2011-12 than in 2009-10. | The watchdog found the best-available Treasury data suggested real-terms health spending was lower in 2011-12 than in 2009-10. |
The coalition said during its spending review the NHS budget had gone up. | |
It said NHS spending had decreased in 2010-11 because of budget and spending plans set in place by the previous Labour government. | |
The watchdog has asked ministers to "clarify the statements made". | |
In 2010, the coalition said it would "guarantee that health spending increases in real terms in each year of the Parliament". | In 2010, the coalition said it would "guarantee that health spending increases in real terms in each year of the Parliament". |
Labour asked the watchdog to look into claims made subsequently by the prime minister, the health secretary and others about meeting this commitment. | Labour asked the watchdog to look into claims made subsequently by the prime minister, the health secretary and others about meeting this commitment. |
'Misleading boasts' | 'Misleading boasts' |
Andrew Dilnot, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, concluded that changes in NHS spending over the two years had been small and health spending was actually lower in 2011-12 than in 2009-10. | Andrew Dilnot, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, concluded that changes in NHS spending over the two years had been small and health spending was actually lower in 2011-12 than in 2009-10. |
Mr Dilnot accepted that there were "questions of definition" and different sources of data. | Mr Dilnot accepted that there were "questions of definition" and different sources of data. |
But he said the watchdog's calculations were based on what he considered "the most authoritative source" of national statistics on the subject from the Treasury. | But he said the watchdog's calculations were based on what he considered "the most authoritative source" of national statistics on the subject from the Treasury. |
In a letter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Mr Dilnot said: "On the basis of these figures, we would conclude that expenditure on the NHS in real-terms was lower in 2011-12 than it was in 2009-10. | In a letter to Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Mr Dilnot said: "On the basis of these figures, we would conclude that expenditure on the NHS in real-terms was lower in 2011-12 than it was in 2009-10. |
"Given the small size of the changes and the uncertainties associated with them, it might also be fair to say that real-terms expenditure had changed little over this period. | "Given the small size of the changes and the uncertainties associated with them, it might also be fair to say that real-terms expenditure had changed little over this period. |
"In light of this, I should be grateful if the Department of Health could clarify the statements made." | "In light of this, I should be grateful if the Department of Health could clarify the statements made." |
Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said it was evidence the government was cutting the NHS. | Shadow health secretary Andy Burnham said it was evidence the government was cutting the NHS. |
"For months, David Cameron's government have made misleading boasts about NHS spending, misrepresenting the true financial difficulties he has brought upon the NHS," he said. | "For months, David Cameron's government have made misleading boasts about NHS spending, misrepresenting the true financial difficulties he has brought upon the NHS," he said. |
"The prime minister must come to the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity and correct the record. He has been found out. | "The prime minister must come to the House of Commons at the earliest opportunity and correct the record. He has been found out. |
"He has cut the NHS budget for two years running and he owes it to patients and NHS staff to be honest about that." | "He has cut the NHS budget for two years running and he owes it to patients and NHS staff to be honest about that." |
A Department for Health spokesman said: "The 2010-11 year should not be used a baseline for NHS spending because the budget and spending plans were set in place by the previous government. | |
"For the first year of this government's spending review, as Andrew Dilnot acknowledges, NHS spending increased in real terms compared to the previous year by 0.1%. | |
"The NHS budget will continue to increase in real terms during every year of the current spending review settlement." |
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