HC Deb 14 March 1980 vol 980 cc731-3W
Mr. Tom Benyon

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be (1) the value of the savings in (a) local supplementary benefit office staff, (b) local national insurance benefit staff, (c) other staff and (2) the extra cost in administrative staff at (i) child benefit

Sweden 219
Switzerland (1973) 123
United Kingdom (1975) 98
United States 216

Note: (1) Public expenditure only

Source: Public Expenditure on Health, OECD 1977

Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table for each year since 1955, showing expenditure on the National Health Service at current and at constant prices, and comparing it with the index of average earnings.

Sir George Young

There is no general index of average earnings covering the period since 1955. The index of basic wages for manual workers is used in the table below, which gives the information requested.

headquarters and (ii) elsewhere resulting from his decision to pay maternity grant through the child benefit centre at Washington from 1982.

Mrs. Chalker

The value of the savings in local office administration and the extra costs at the child benefit centre will depend upon the precise arrangements including those between local offices and the centre. These have not yet been worked out fully and the detailed breakdown required will not be available for some time.

However, as soon as the information is available I shall write to my hon. Friend.