HC Deb 19 February 1996 vol 272 cc25-6W
Mr. Pike

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what the administration costs are of each benefit in percentage terms for(a) 1993, (b) 1994 and (c) 1995. [12832]

Mr. Burt

The available information is in the table. The administration costs of each benefit are expressed as a percentage of benefit expenditure, for the financial years 1992–93, 1993–94 and 1994–95.

Percentage
Benefit 1992–93 1993–94 1994–95
Retirement pension 1.2 1.2 1.1
Widow's benefit 3.1 3.1 2.5
Unemployment benefit 15.3 17.5 11.8
Sickness and invalidity benefit 4.9 4.8 3.9
Maternity allowance 20.3 17.5 12.9
Non-contributory retirement pension 1.1 0.4 0.8
War pension 4.9 4.2 4.7
Attendance allowance 4.8 3.7 3.7
Invalid care allowance 3.7 4.1 3.7
Severe disablement allowance 6.1 5.0 4.9
Mobility allowance1 6.8
Disability living allowance 7.1 5.2 5.1
Disability working allowance 256.6 65.7 43.9
Industrial injuries disablement benefits 9.0 8.4 7.3
Income support 10.4 10.2 10.3
Child benefit and one parent benefit 2.3 2.1 2.3
Guardian's allowance 3.9 7.2 14.2
Family credit 4.6 4.4 3.7
Social fund 51.7 61.1 46.1
Housing benefit 3.4 3.0 5.8
Council tax benefit 12.4 10.3 9.4
1 1994–95 benefit expenditure figures source: Departmental Report 1995.

1. Disability living allowance replaced mobility allowance and attendance allowance for under 65s from April 1992.

2.Benefit and administration expenditure is subject to different influences, with the latter particularly affected by factors such as staff costs and capital investment. The estimates of administration costs are based on the Government case accounting convention and therefore include any investment spend incurred in the current year.