§ 78. Mr. Marquandasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the increase in expenditure on social security between 1968–69 and 1973–74 forecast in the White Paper, Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1973–74, Command Paper No. 4234, is expected 271W to be due to an increase in the number of people eligible for benefits and what proportion to an increase in the relative level of benefits after taking account of price increases.
§ Sir K. JosephAbout 7 per cent. of the increase shown was due to new and extended benefits proposed under the National Superannuation Scheme. The remaining 93 per cent. was due in part to increases of benefit levels in line with prices during 1968 and 1969 and in part to increasing numbers of beneficiaries. As Cmnd. 4234 explains, the projections of expenditure on social security did not take account of possible future changes in benefit levels.