§ 44. Mr. WESTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net expenditure in 1933 on social services, excepting sums spent on war pensions?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Duff Cooper)I would refer the hon. Member to the table in Part I of the Return of Public Social Services (Command Paper 4749 of 1934) which, except in the case of items (h)-(l) in that table, contains the figures of estimated expenditure in 1933. If those items are dealt with on the basis of taking figures of actual expenditure in the previous year, the total expenditure in 1933 may be estimated at £478,483,000, of which £42,842,000 is in respect of war pensions.
§ Mr. WESTIn view of the total figure which the hon. Gentleman has just given, is not the figure of £500,000,000, so frequently referred to by his supporters, grossly misleading and inaccurate?
§ Mr. COOPERThe difference between £478,000,000 and £500,000,000 might be worked out by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. WESTIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that £100,000,000 of that £478,000,000 comes from the contributions of the beneficiaries of the social services?