HC Deb 29 November 1976 vol 921 c60W
Mr. Giles Shaw

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of gross national product has been devoted to social security benefits in each of the years 1945 to 1975.

Mr. Deakins

The available figures are given below on a United Kingdom basis. Comparable figures for social security benefits for the years 1945 to 1948 on which to calculate a percentage are not available.

SOCIAL SECURITY EXPENDITURE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT
1949 5.37
1950 5.22
1951 4.93
1952 5.35
1953 5.55
1954 5.28
1955 5.48
1956 5.39
1957 5.33
1958 6.21
1959 6.35
1960 6.13
1961 6.28
1962 6.42
1963 6.90
1964 6.68
1965 7.21
1966 7.28
1967 7.78
1968 8.39
1969 8.49
1970 8.47
1971 8.26
1972 8.76
1973 8.13
1974 8.72
1975 8.89