HC Deb 10 February 1969 vol 777 cc211-2W
Mr. Lomas

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the gross national product was devoted to cash benefits paid as social security in each year from 1949 to the latest available date.

Mr. Swingler

The proportions which payments of Social Security cash benefits have borne to the gross national product have been as follows:

Year Per cent.
1949 5.4
1950 5.3
1951 5.0
1952 5.4
1953 5.6
1954 5.3
1955 5.5
1956 5.5
1957 5.4
1958 6.3
1959 6.4
1960 6.2
1961 6.4
1962 6.5
1963 7.0
1964 6.8
1965 7.3
1966 7.5
1967 8.1