§ 21 and 22. Mr. Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) the percentage of the revenue devoted to social services in 1939 and the percentage so devoted in 1952;
(2) the percentage of the national income devoted to social services in 1939 and the percentage so devoted in 1952.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIt is estimated that social service expenditure by all public authorities in Great Britain, on current and capital account, amounted to 12 per cent. of the gross national product in 1938–39 and about 17 per cent. in 1952–53. Exchequer expenditure on social services was about 27 per cent. of total ordinary revenue in each of these years. Grants made to local authorities for specific social services, and the net amount of grants to insurance funds, are included in the latter percentage. The food subsidies are not taken into account in these percentages except to the extent that they relate to welfare foods.
§ Sir W. SmithersWill my hon. Friend carefully read the leading article in "The Times" this morning entitled "The cost of security"?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI always read the leading article in "The Times."