HC Deb 13 March 1978 vol 946 c65W
Mr. Churchill

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, as a result of measures at the end of 1976 to reduce public expenditure, what reductions there have been in his Department's budget for 1978–79 at 1978 survey prices; and what percentage of the total budget this figure represents.

Mr. Moyle

Planned expenditure on health and personal social services in England in 1978–79, other than that on the family practitioner services, has been reduced by about £28 million as a result of measures taken at the end of 1976, and shown in Tables IOC and 10E of "The Government Expenditure Plans, Cmnd 6721-I." Measures were also taken to offset the increase in the cost of the family practitioner services, giving a planned reduction in net expenditure of about £23 million in 1978–79. These figures are on the price basis used in "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1978–79 to 1981–82", Cmnd 7049, and together amount to about 0.8 per cent. of the total health and personal social services expenditure in England. The expenditure plans shown in Cmnd 7049 also take account of subsequent additions to the programme and revised estimates of demand in the family practitioner services. There were no reductions in the social security programme.