HC Deb 30 July 1982 vol 28 cc844-6W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under five years are receiving free welfare milk in day care facilities; if he will estimate how many are cared for by registered childminders; how many childminders are involved; and if he will give the figures for the United Kingdom, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Mr. Newton

In England free welfare milk is currently received by over 19,000 organisations and people providing day care for children under five; about one quarter of these are registered childminders. No figures are available on the number of children concerned. Information relating to other parts of the United Kingdom

Unemployed Claimants Receiving
Registered Unemployed Unemployment benefit only Unemployment benefit and supplementary allowance Supplementary allowance only No benefit
Actual difference between February and May 1982 -76,200 -106,600 -2,700 +18,500 -39,700
Percentage difference between February and May 1982 -2.6 -12.7 -1.1 +1.6 -9.2

Sources:

Employment Gazette for March and June 1982 Table 2.2 page S24.

Quarterly analysis of unemployment claimants February and May 1982.

Sir Brandon Rhys Williams

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures showing expenditure on (a) the contributory benefits and (b) the means-tested benefits for which he is responsible in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1980 and estimated expenditure in 1982–83, at current prices, at constant 1982 prices and as percentages of gross domestic product.

Mr. Newton

The information available is as follows:

£ million
Current prices* Constant prices average 1981–82 Expenditure at current prices as percentage of gross domestic product
1950–51
Contributory benefits 382 3,467 3.4
Means-tested benefits 85 772 0.8
1960–61
Contributory benefits 984 6,030 4.4
Means-tested benefits 180 1,103 0.8
1970–71
Contributory benefits 2,636 10,697 6.1
Means-tested benefits 524 2,126 1.2

is the responsibility of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

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