§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the total amount spent by her Department for each of the last 30 years expressed: (i) in money terms and (ii) as a percentage of GNP.
§ Dr. OwenThe responsibilities of my Department and its predecessors have changed considerably in the last 30 years and the information requested could not be obtained without disproportionate effort. However, expenditure on the National Health Service and social security in the United Kingdom since their inception is shown below:
expenditure on the National Health Service in 1976–77 is expected to arise
57Wfrom the cutbacks in services provided by the personal social services over the same period.
§ Dr. OwenThe rate support grant settlement for 1976–77 allowed for current expenditure on personal social services in England to be some four per cent. higher in real terms than in 1975–76. Although the capital programme for 1976–77 has been curtailed compared with 1975–76 it will nevertheless allow for a modest programme of new building that will add to existing facilities. There is therefore no reason to expect cutbacks in these services affecting the need for expenditure on the National Health Service.