§ 13. Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost of all social services for the year ended October, 1951, and October, 1954, respectively.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerComprehensive figures of social service expenditure are available only for financial years, and the latest are those given in the Monthly Digest of Statistics for May, 1954. These show consolidated current expenditure (net) by all public authorities in Great Britain as £1,471 million in 1949–50 and £1,865 million in 1952–53; corresponding figures for capital expenditure including housing, were £327 million in 1949–50 and £463 million in 1952–53.
§ Mr. OsborneDoes not the increase from £1,471 million to £1,865 million distributed to individuals more than compensate for the loss of the purchasing power of the pound? Is there not more real value in the social services?
§ Mr. ButlerI think that the taxpayer is apt to underestimate the greater value of the social services to him or her personally in assessing how well off he or she is.
§ Mr. JayDo the figures the Chancellor has given include food subsidies? It they are excluded, does not that make the picture rather different?
§ Mr. ButlerI should not like to give a snap answer to that question, but I will inform the right hon. Gentleman whether they do or not.