HC Deb 08 March 1988 vol 129 c167W
62. Mr. Arbuthnot

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the extent of support for elderly people in the United Kingdom; and what equivalent information he has about other European countries.

72. Mr. Sumberg

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of gross domestic product in the United Kingdom is spent on support for elderly people; and what equivalent information he has about other countries in the EEC.

Mr. Scott

At the latest date for which full comparable information is available, the United Kingdom devoted 9.6 per cent. of its gross domestic product to the support of the elderly, excluding health care. Information for other EC member states is in the table.

Expenditure on programmes for old age as a proportion of GDP at market prices for EC member states (excluding Greece) in 1983
Country Percentage
Denmark 10.4
France 9.8

Percentage change in net revenue expenditure 1980–81 and 1986–871 Percentage change in whole time equivalent medical staff3 1980 to 1986
Cash Per cent. Real terms2 Per cent. Per cent.
West Midlands 54.1 8.0 9.7
England 50.0 6.5 8.1
1 Figures are based on health authorities' summarised income and expenditure accounts.
2 Adjusted by the gross domestic product deflator.
3 Includes permanent paid, honorary and locum staff.