§ Mr. Sproatasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the percentage of GNP spent on all social security benefits, including unemployment benefit, in each of the EEC countries, respectively, in 1975, or as nearly comparable basis as possible to that which shows United Kingdom figure as 20.2 per cent.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettComparable figures for other countries are not available because of wide differences between their social security schemes.
Figures derived from the national accounts of OECD Countries, 1974 are given below. Differences reflect, inter alia, 675W differences in methods of organising social and health services and income support.
Social security benefits* as a proportion of GNP (market prices) in 1974 per cent. Belgium(1) 15.5 France 15.5 Germany 10.7 Italy(2) 15.6 Netherlands 18.7 United Kingdom(3) 8.3 * including assistance grants (1) includes transfers to non-profit making bodies (2) 1973 data (3) includes benets paid abroad. I assume in referring to 20.2 per cent. the hon. Gentleman has in mind my answer to his Question on 3rd November 1976—[Vol. 918, c. 558]. As he will be aware, this percentage related to central Government expenditure and was not a percentage of GNP.