The purpose of this paper is to survey the published evidence that has a bearing on some of the central questions of health service funding in the UK. The paper is organised around five central issues. The first set of issues is to do with the aggregate matter of the overall spending level, its adequacy, and the public/private mix. Part 3 reviews the effects of prices for health care on access, utilisation, health and other consumerrelated matters. Part 4 addresses a related set of issues to do with the discriminatory effects of the same set of financial mechanisms. The final two sections review the effects of financing and reimbursement systems on providers: Part 5 addressing the financing of hospitals and Part 6 the payment of doctors.