§ Mr. Gordon BrownTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Services how much of the £4 billion increase in real terms in social security expenditure over the period 1978–79 to 1987–88 was accounted for by increases or offsetting decreases in real terms in the average amounts of benefit paid, for each of the benefits listed in table 15.1 of Cm. 288-II; and what was the year-on-year increase.
§ Mr. ScottThe estimated increase in real terms in social security expenditure over the period 1978–79 to 1987–88 is £13 billion. An analysis of the £4 billion increase over that period caused by increases in the average amounts of benefits paid cannot be provided in precisely the form requested, but the available information is set out in the table. Further analysis showing year-on-year increases could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
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Analysis of real changes in average amount of benefit paid1 Great Britain £ million Retirement Pension 1,330 Christmas Bonus (120) Widow's Benefit 50 Unemployment Benefit (360) Sickness Benefit (60) Invalidity Benefit 160 Death Grant (30) Industrial Disablement Benefit 20 Maternity Allowance (20) War Pension 130 Attendance Allowance 30 Invalid Care Allowance 20 NCIP/SDA 60 Mobility Allowance 100 Supplementary Benefit & Certificated Housing Benefit2 3 840 Standard Housing Benefit 420 Child Benefit4 1,380
£ million One Parent Benefit 60 Family Income Supplement 50 Maternity Grant (30) 1 Benefits where the change has an effect of less than £10 million have been excluded. Figures in brackets ( ) refer to decreases. 2 Housing benefit is rent rebate and rent allowance. Rate rebates are excluded as they are not classified as public expenditure. 3 Certificated housing benefit has been added to supplementary benefit to ensure a consistent basis for the comparison. The supplementary benefits figure for 1978–79 included the housing costs of supplementary benefit recipients. 4 The increase is based on an analysis of public expenditure only and takes no account of tax allowance available in 1978–79.