§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount spent on the National Health Service per head of the population for the whole of the United Kingdom, and per head of the working population for 1982–83.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeThe figures requested are £267 and £572 respectively. The term "working population" has been taken to include the registered unemployed.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of social security payments in the United Kingdom per head of the working population, and per head of the total adult population for 1982–83, and the proportion spent on administrative costs.
§ Dr. BoysonThe cost of social security benefit payments in the United Kingdom in 1982–83 was £1,215 per head of the working population and £740 per head of the total adult population. Administration costs are slightly less than five per cent. of benefit expenditure.