§ Mr. Wigleyasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a table in the Official Report showing the latest estimate for 1982–83 and for each year since 1973–74, the total cost of social security payments in current money terms and in constant money terms, together with an estimate for each year of the proportion this represented of (a) total Government expenditure and (b) gross national product.
§ Mr. NewtonThe information requested is as follows.
Year Social security expenditure* Expenditure as percentage of public expenditure Expenditure as percentage of gross national productt Current 1981–82 prices prices £ million £ million 1973–74 5,539 17,395 19 7 1974–75 6,954 18,521 18 8 1975–76 9,464 20,228 19 8 1976–77 11,603 21,514 21 9 152W
Unemployment benefit Supplementary allowance Supplementary pension Short-term Long-term Year Current prices 1981–82 Current prices 1981–82 Current prices 1981–82 Current prices 1981–82 prices prices prices prices £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million £ million 1973–74 174 546 411 1,291 * * 275 864 1974–75 214 570 495 1,318 * * 344 916 1975–76 454 970 816 1,744 * * 484 1,034 1976–77 559 1,036 1,092 2,025 * * 609 1,129 1977–78 629 1,023 1,072 1,744 338 550 665 1,082
Year Social security expenditure* Expenditure as percentage of public expenditure Expenditure as percentage of gross national productt Current 1981–82 prices prices £ million £ million 1977–78 13,917 22,636 24 9 1978–79 16,437 24,683 25 10 1979–80 19,417 25,181 25 10 1980–81 23,458 26,155 25 10 1981–82 28,510 28,510 27 11 1982–83 32,473 ‡ 29 ‡ * Expenditure on social security in Great Britain (Programme 12). The figure for 1982–83 includes expenditure on housing benefit; figures for 1976–77 to 1981–82 have been adjusted to include corresponding expenditure which was not classified as social security at the time. Information on the similar adjustment for earlier years is not available. † At market prices. ‡ Not available for 1982–83.