§ Dr. Godmanasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent in Scotland per head on personal social services in the last year for which figures are available; and what are the comparable figures for (a) England and Wales and (b) each of the English and Welsh regions.
§ Mr. John MacKayThe last financial year for which relevant figures are available for Scotland and Wales is 1984–85 and for England 1983–84. In 1984–85 the gross amount per head of the population spent in Scotland by local authorities in the discharge of the responsibilities arising directly from the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 or referred to therein was £63. The equivalent figure for Wales is £55. 1983–84 figures for Scotland, Wales and England and for areas in England corresponding approximately to those of regional health authorities are as follows:
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Approximate Gross Amount Spent per Head on Personal Social Services in 1983–84 (rounded to the nearest £) England (by regions) £ Northern 55 Yorkshire 49 Trent 50 East Anglia 37 North West Thames 68 North East Thames 75 South East Thames 68 South West Thames 51 Wessex 37 Oxford 40 South Western 42 West Midlands 45 Mersey 53 North Western 57 Average for England 53 Wales 53 Scotland 59 The figures are not directly comparable relating to Scotland include expenditure on other services for offenders which are as i the social work programme for Scotland but and Wales.