HC Deb 22 March 1985 vol 75 c640W
Ms. Harriet Harman

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of change in real net personal social services spending for each of the years 1979–80 to 1984–85; and what was the average annual rate of such change over that period as a whole for each of the following categories of social services authorities (a) all such authorities, (b) rate-capped authorities, (c) authorities in penalty but not rate-capped in 1985–86, (d) rate-capped authorities and authorities in penalty in 1985–86 and (e) authorities which are neither rate-capped nor in penalty in 1985–86, giving outturn figures where available and budget estimates otherwise.

Mr. John Patten

The rate of change in personal social services net current expenditure by all local authorities in England for each year from 1979–80 to 1984–85 is as follows:

Cash (per cent.) Economic cost (per cent.)
1979–80 to 1980–81 +23.8 +4.5
1980–81 to 1981–82 +10.9 +0.9
1981–82 to 1982–83 +9.8 +2.9
1982–83 to 1983–84 +8.2 +3.6
1983–84 to 1984–85 +7.4 +2.5

Details of local authority budgets for 1985–86 are not yet available, so it is not possible to give information relating to authorities budgeting to incur penalties in 1985–86. Average annual rates of change 1979–80 to 1984–85 for the other categories listed are as follows:

Cash (per cent.) Economic cost
Rate-capped authorities +16.4 +3.9
Non rate-capped authorities +14.8 +2.9
All English authorities +15.0 +3.0