England's health spending set to rise above Scotland's in four years

Published on Wednesday 27 August 2008 21:52

HEALTH spending in England could outstrip Scotland in four years, Labour has claimed.

Spending per head of population in Scotland is historically higher than England because of deprivation in areas such as parts of Glasgow and the need to cater for large rural areas.

Currently 216 more is spent per person in Scotland than England. However, Labour health spokeswoman Margaret Curran has said that by 2012 England will be spending 23 more per head than Scotland and the gap will grow based on current annual increases of 6.7 per cent in England compared to 4.1 per cent in Scotland.

"It's not the need that has changed, it is the decisions and priorities made by Labour in Westminster for England compared to the SNP in Holyrood for Scotland," a Labour spokesman added.

"The SNP would rather spend money on council tax freezes and business rate cuts instead of health."

A spokesman for Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon said Labour was using fantasy figures and has lost touch with reality.

"At the last election Labour were committed to giving every single extra penny from the spending review and efficiency savings to education – which would have taken money away from the health budget."