§ Lord Mulleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
What is the percentage increase in real terms between 1978–79 expenditure and the estimate for the current year for the DHSS expenditure on (a) National Health Service and (b) social security benefits.
§ Lord SkelmersdaleExpenditure for which DHSS is responsible has grown in real terms (measured by use of the gdp deflator) between 1978–79 and 1987–88 as follows:
- (a) National Health Service (England only) 33 per cent.
- (b) Social Security Benefits (Great Britain) 43 per cent.