HC Deb 04 May 1960 vol 622 cc84-5W
Mr. Tiley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total estimated expenditure on the social services, current and capital, in each of the years 1958–59, 1959–60 and 1960–61 by the Exchequer, the National Insurance Fund and the local authorities. respectively.

Sir E. Boyle

I regret that comprehensive figures for 1960–61 are not yet available. Figures for 1958–59 and 1959–60 are as follows:

TOTAL CURRENT AND CAPITAL EXPENDITURE ON SOCIAL SERVICES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM
1958–59 1959–60 (provisional)
£m. £m.
1. Central Government 1,349.2 1,455.1
2. National Insurance Funds 994.1 1,029.6
3. Local authorities 1,296.1 1,420.7
4. Total—consolidated 3,459.9 3,720.6

Mr. Tiley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he wall give an estimate of the percentage of central Government revenue devoted to current expenditure on the social services for each of the years 1958–59, 1959–60 and 1960–61.

Sir E. Boyle

I regret that figures for 1960–61 are not yet available; but in 1958–59 and 1959–60 the proportion of ordinary revenue devoted to current expenditure on the social services (excluding grants to local authorities) was about 24 per cent. and 25 per cent., respectively.

Mr. Tiley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the estimated percentage of the national income to be spent by all public authorities on the social services in 1960–61; and what were the corresponding figures for 1951– 52 and 1959–60.

Sir. E. Boyle

I regret that estimates for 1960–61 are not yet available, but current and capital expenditure by all public authorities on the social services, expressed as a percentage of the national income, was 17¾ per cent. in 1951 and 19½ per cent. in 1959. Estimates of the national income for financial years are not at present available, and the figures have therefore been given for calendar years.