HC Deb 05 July 1976 vol 914 cc431-2W
Mr. Kenneth Clarke

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the estimated net change in social security spending between 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77 after deducting the additions due to the increases in the total number of unemployed and the total number of retirement pensioners and the income tax paid on taxable benefits.

Mr. Orme

Expenditure on social security benefits, less tax and clawback. is estimated to be as follows:

£ billion
1974–75 … … … 6.1
1975–76 … … … 8.3
1976–77 … … … 11.1
The year-on-year increases of £2.2 billion and £2.8 billion should be reduced by £0.5 billion and £0.4 billion respectively to exclude the effect of the increases in the number of unemployed and of retirement pensioners.