Expenditure

HC Deb 10 March 1977 vol 927 cc654-6W

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what changes are represented by the figures for 1976–77 minus £455 million, 1977–78 minus £58 million and 1978–79 plus £243 million contained in programme number 12 (Social Security) in Section E of Table 10 of Part I of Command Paper No. 6721; and, where these changes are estimating changes, what factors are responsible.

Mr. Ennals

The figures represent the residual difference in the expenditure on the social security programme since Cmnd. 6393 after taking into account the amounts shown in Sections A, B and D of Table 10. They reflect estimating changes affecting numbers and costs. The main reason for the minus figures in 1976–77 and 1977–78 is a reduction in the proportion of the unemployed expected to be eligible for unemployment benefit.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set out in the Official Report a list of all the changes to programmes 11 and 12 for which figures are given in headings A to E of Table 10 of Part I of Command Paper No. 6721, distinguishing between capital and revenue expenditure.

Mr. Ennals

The changes in expenditure in programme 11, Health and Personal Social Services, distinguishing between capital and revenue, are as followsTable 10B (a) Capital: 1977–78—£22 million (i) National Health Service Building (ii) Personal Social Services Building (iii) Buildings for Centrally Financed Services (b) Revenue: 1977–78—£48 million; 1978–79—£69 million (i) Recovery of the full cost of treatment following road traffic accidents (ii) Increased charges to the users of dental and ophthalmic services (iii) Reduced allowance for drug promotion costs allowed within the voluntary price regulation scheme (iv) Reduced expenditure on the centrally financed services Table 10C (a) Capital: 1977–78—£11 million; 1978–79—£21 million (i) National Health Service Building (ii) Personal Social Services Building (iii) Buildings for other health services (b) Revenue: l977–78—£5 million; 1978–79—£5 million Further economies in the NHS drugs bill Table 10E (a) Capital: 1978–79—£5 million National Health Service Building (b) Revenue: 1977–78—£3 million; 1978–79—£23 million (i) Changes in the estimated costs of services since Cmnd 6393 (ii) Further measures, yet to be decided, to help offset the increasing cost of the family practitioner services (iii) Reductions in the cost of central administration In programme 12, Social Security, all items are current expenditure. Table 10A November 1976 uprating Table 10B (i) Increase of mobility allowance from November 1977 (ii) Restriction of unemployment benefit to those with substantial occupational pensions (iii) Introduction of non-contributory invalidity benefit for housewives from November 1977 Table 10D Initial proposals (25th May), and subsequent revisions (26th October), for the introduction of child benefit from 4th April 1977 Table 10E Residual changes in numbers and benefit expenditure since Cmnd 6393.