§ Mr. Lomasasked the Minister of Social Security what proportion of the gross national product was devoted to cash benefits paid as social security in each year from 1948 to the latest available date; and how this compares with information she has from other countries.
§ Mr. PentlandFigures are available from 1949, which was the first complete year covered by the National Insurance schemes. Since then the proportions which social security cash benefits—National Insurance benefits including 127W those for industrial injuries, war pensions and service grants, non-contributory pensions, National Assistance grants, and family allowances—have borne to the gross national product have been as follows:
Year Per cent. Year Per cent 1949 … 5.4 1958 … 6.2 1950 … 5.2 1959 … 6.4 1951 … 4.9 1960 … 6.2 1952 … 5.4 1961 … 6.3 1953 … 5.6 1962 … 6.5 1954 … 5.3 1963 … 7.0 1955 … 5.5 1964 … 6.8 1956 … 5.4 1965 … 7.4 1957 … 5.4 1966 … 7.6 I regret that comparable figures for other countries are not available.