§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish information available to him relating to the proportion of the increase in personal social services expenditure between 1978–79 and 1981–82 which was absorbed by increasing staff costs and the proportion which is attributable to an increase in services for disabled people; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. NewtonInformation relating to 1981–82 has not yet been received from all authorities. For the period 1978–79 to 1980–81, local authority current expenditure on the personal social services increased by some £555 million (52 per cent.) in cash terms. Within that increase, staff costs increased by £441 million (58 per cent.), representing about 80 per cent. of the total increase. Not all expenditure on services for disabled people is separately identified in the information supplied by local authorities, and so no equivalent figures are available for those services.