§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total expenditure on social services and social security as a percentage of gross national product during the latest convenient year in each of the nine member countries of the EEC.
§ Mr. O'MalleySocial expenditure figures for 1972 are given in the report of the Commission of the European Com 90W munities on the Development of the Social Situation in the Community in 1973, as follows:
Percentage of GNP United Kingdom 17.1 Belgium 19.2 Denmark 20.8 France 18.7 Germany 22.1 Ireland 13.4 Italy 22.4 Luxembourg 20.0 Netherlands 22.7 International comparisons in this field are difficult to make because of differing institutional arrangements and because some items—for example, capital expenditure and tax allowances—are not included in the above table.