Personal Transfer Payments

HC Deb 14 February 1977 vol 926 cc98-9W

Mr. Clemitson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of public expenditure was represented by personal transfer payments in the last complete financial year; and what were the corresponding figures, using a comparable basis, for each of the other member countries of the EEC.

Mr. Denzil Davies

Current transfer payments to persons by general Government in 1975 were 19.6 per cent. of public expenditure as defined in Cmnd. 67211. Corresponding figures on the same basis are not available for other EEC countries. The table below shows current transfer payments to persons as a proportion of general Government expenditure for each EEC country on the basis given in the most recent issue of "National Accounts of OECD Countries". Comparability between countries is affected by differences in the organisation of health and welfare services.

CURRENT TRANSFER PAYMENTS TO PERSONS AS A PROPORTION OF GENERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE, 1974
				Per cent.
Belgium	…	…	…	40.5*
Denmark	…	…	…	29.8*
France	…	…	…	43.0
West Germany	…	…	…	27.8
Ireland	…	…	…	21.4†
Italy	…	…	…	41.0*†
Luxembourg	…	…	…	39.6*
Netherlands	…	…	…	42.1
United Kingdom	…	…	…	20.1‡
Source: National Accounts of OECD Countries 1974.
* Includes transfers to private non-profit-making bodies.
† 1973.
‡ Includes payments overseas. The corresponding figure for 1975 is 19.9 per cent.