Administrative Costs

HC Deb 26 January 1989 vol 145 cc706-7W

Mr. Sean Hughes

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the cost of administering the social security system in 1978–79 and 1987–88, in 1978–79 prices.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

The administration costs are as follows:

	£ million
1978–79	761
1987–88	1996
1 At 1978–79 prices.

The main reasons for the additional costs in 1987–88 were the salary and other costs of extra staff in the local offices of both the Department of Social Security and the Department of Employment, together with the greater use of computers and consultants.