§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give the estimated national expenditure on social security during 1970–71; to what extent he estimates an increase or decrease in this expenditure, in cash terms, by 1974–75 and by what percentage; and, on the basis of the continuing depreciation in the purchasing value of the £ that has taken place between June, 1969, and 1st March, 1971, to what extent he estimates the 1974–75 figures will have to be adjusted to be comparable with the 1970–71 figures.
§ Sir K. JosephI would refer the hon. Member to Table 1.2 of Cmnd. 4578. The basis on which the social security figures are given, which is set out in Appendix B paragraph 5, means that the figures are already comparable.