§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the answer given to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat), Official Report, 2nd November 1976, column 558, on the percentage of Government spending on social security benefits.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe figures are as follows:
Social Security Expenditure as a Percentage of Central Government Expenditure 1950 16.6 1951 14.4 1952 15.6 1953 16.7 1954 16.3 1955 17.2 1956 18.0 1957 17.4 1958 20.2 1959 20.6 1960 20.0 1961 20.4 1962 20.6 1963 22.5 1964 21.5 1965 21.8 1966 21.3 1967 20.9 1968 21.6 1969 22.3 1970 22.2 1971 21.5 1972 22.7 1973 21.8 1974 21.0 1975 20.5 1976 22.2 1977 24.3 Source: National Accounts estimates.