§ 36. Mr. PatnickTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security by what amount spending in real terms on social security programmes has increased over the last five years for which figures are available.
§ Mr. ScottSpending on social security in 1989–90 is forecast to be £51.1 billion in current plans, while in 1984–85 it was £38.1 billion. Despite a drop in unemployment of almost one third, with the consequential effect on expenditure on that group, overall social security spending has increased by 3.4 per cent. in real terms in the last five years.
§ 42. Mr. Simon CoombsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the percentage of public expenditure spent on social security benefits now; and what it was in 1979.
§ Mr. ScottThe percentage of public expenditure spent on the social security programme in 1989–90 is forecast to be 30 per cent. on current plans, while in 1979–80 it was 24 per cent.