evidence: 5. Health spending per person has been consistently higher in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland than in England since the start of devolution, though the gap in spending has narrowed over time. In 1999–2000, Scotland spent 22% more per person than England, Wales spent 12% more and Northern Ireland spent 15% more. But in 2019–20, on the eve of the pandemic, Scotland spent just 3% more, while Wales and Northern Ireland each spent 7% more.Within England, NHS spending this year is planned to be 32% higher per person in the area with highest funding (Cheshire and Merseyside) than in the area with lowest funding (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West). [...] For Scotland and Northern Ireland, health spending per person remains higher than England throughout this period even after adjusting for differences in age. For Northern Ireland, age-adjusted health spending is more generous relative to England than non-age-adjusted health spending, as was the case for Scotland up to 2007–08. This means that the age structure was more favourable – in terms of requiring less health spending – than in England. Or, put more simply, Northern Ireland spends more per person despite having a younger population.