§ Mr. MeacherTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the level of expenditure on social security each year since 1979, both in cash terms and at 1990–91 prices, excluding expenditure on unemployment benefit, income support for the unemployed and their families and other expenditure on the unemployed; and what has been the percentage change in real terms each year and cumulatively.
§ Miss WiddecombeDetails of total social security spending from 1978–79 to 1990–91, excluding the amount spent on unemployed people, are given in the table. The table is as follows:
Expenditure £ million Cash 1990–91 prices Percentage change in real terms Cumulative percentage change 1978–79 15,228 38,416 — — 1979–80 18,146 39,234 2.13 2.13 1980–81 21,221 38,774 -1.17 0.96 1981–82 24,941 41,558 7.18 8.14 1982–83 27,989 43,544 4.78 12.92 1983–84 31,180 46,364 6.48 19.40 1984–85 33,630 46,590 2.64 22.04 1985–86 36,525 49,023 3.01 25.05 1986–87 39,533 51,283 4.61 29.66 1987–88 42,292 52,084 1.56 31.22 1988–89 44,483 50,985 -2.11 29.11 1989–90 48,380 52,129 2.24 31.35 1990–91 54,149 54,149 3.88 35.23