HC Deb 23 January 1997 vol 288 c702W
Mr. Thurnham

To ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the real terms percentage increase in funding for personal social services, indicating the figures on which the calculations are based, for each year since 1979, together with projections for such future years as are available to him. [11534]

Mr. Burns

The amount and annual increases in funding for personal social services since 1981–82 are set out in the table; figures prior to 1981–82 are not held by the Department:

Funding for social services £ million Percentage increase in real terms
1981–82 1,642.561
1982–83 1,943.401 10.4
1983–84 2,084.598 2.5
1984–85 2,204.800 0.7
1985–86 2,366.400 1.8
1986–87 2,552.900 4.7
1987–88 2,756.500 2.5
1988–89 2,912.800 -1.0
1989–90 3,269.300 4.9
1990–91 3,648.000 n/a
1991–92 4,503.000 16.0
1992–93 4,850.000 3.4
1993–94 5,585.400 11.9
1994–95 6,403.200 12.6
1995–96 6,965.900 6.1
1996–97 7,511.000 5.2
1997–98 7,846.030 2.4

Figures for years prior to 1990–91 relate to the previous local government finance system and are not comparable with figures for subsequent years. In particular, amounts provided through special and specific grants are excluded prior to 1990–91. The figures above should not be seen as expenditure targets. They are one component of the funding provided for local government services and local authorities may in the event spend more or less than the amounts above.