§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the net expenditure on family allowances in Great Britain each year since 1960; what percentage these figures represent of total social security expenditure each year since that date; what are the comparable expenditures on family allowances each year since 1960 in each of the Western European countries; and what percentages these figures represent of their annual total social security expenditure since 1960.
§ Mr. DeanThe cost of family allowances, net of clawback and as a proportion of total expenditure on social security benefits in Great Britain, is as follows. Detailed figures on which comparable estimates could be made for other countries are not available.
Year Family Allowances£m. All Social Security Benefits£m. Percentage 1960–61 … 129 1,388 9.2 1961–62 … 134 1,553 8.6 1962–63 … 136 1,646 8.2 1963–64 … 140 1,891 7.4 1964–65 … 143 1,962 7.3 1965–66 … 146 2,322 6.3 1966–67 … 149 2,456 6.0 1967–68 … 160 2,790 5.7 1968–69 … 229 3,104 7.3 1969–70 … 248 3,302 7.5 1970–71 … 250 3,557 7.0 1971–72 … 259 4,144 6.25