§ 50. Mr. WESTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net expenditure in 1934 on social services, excepting sums spent on war pensions?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI am afraid that the information asked for is not yet available. As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, full details of expenditure on social services are given in the Return of Public Social Services published each year. The latest issue of the Return (Command Paper 4749 of 1934) contains the figures for 1933 and those for 1934 will be included in the next issue which will be published in the autumn.
§ Mr. WESTIs it not a monstrous thing that the figure of £500,000,000, so often quoted in this House, is grossly misleading, and is it not the fact that the increase in social services during the last few years has been largely offset by the increasing taxation borne by the people indirectly?
§ Lieut.-Commander AGNEWIs it not the fact that we spend each year more than any country in the world on social services and that we get the best results?
§ Mr. G. GRIFFITHSIs it not the fact that there is more stopped out of the wages of the working class in this country than is the case in any other country?