HC Deb 10 March 1992 vol 205 cc504-6W
Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer of 15 March 1990,Official Report, columns 335–36, concerning administration costs as a percentage of benefit expenditure.

Miss. Widdecombe

Administration costs as a percentage of benefit expenditure for each year from 1978–79 to 1991–92 are in the table:

Per cent.
1978–79 5.0
1979–80 4.9
1980–81 5.0
1981–82 4.9
1982–83 4.8
1983–84 4.7
1984–85 4.4
1985–86 4.4
1986–87 4.6
1987–88 5.0
1988–89 5.3
1989–90 5.6
1990–91 5.7
1991–92 15.5
1 Estimated.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will list, for each year since 1978–79 the total amount spent on social security, excluding expenditure on the unemployed, at current prices and in 1991–92 prices, showing the real terms percentage increase or decrease.

Miss Widdecombe

Details of total social security spending from 1978–79 to 1991–92, excluding the amount spent on unemployed people, are given in the table.

Expenditure £ million
Cash 1991–92 prices Percentage change in real terms over previous year
1978–79 15,228 41,310 —
1979–80 18,146 42,190 2.1
1980–81 21,221 41,695 -1.2
1981–82 24,941 44,690 7.2
1982–83 27,989 46,816 4.8
1983–84 31,180 49,844 6.5
1984–85 33,638 51,211 2.7
1985–86 36,539 52,719 2.9
1986–87 39,549 55,245 4.8
1987–88 42,284 56,019 1.4
1988–89 44,505 55,011 -1.8
1989–90 48,539 56,343 2.4
1990–91 54,143 57,933 2.8
1991–921 61,133 61,133 51.5
1 1991–92 figures are estimated outturn.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the total amount spent on social security in Great Britain, in current and in 1991–92 prices, for each year since 1978–79; and what was the percentage real terms decrease or increase in each year.

Miss Widdecombe

Details of total social security spending from 1978–79 to 1991–92 are given in the table.

Expenditure £ million Percentage change in real terms over previous year
Cash 1991–92 prices
1978–79 16,602 45,037
1979–80 19,616 45,608 1.3
1980–81 23,751 46,666 2.3
1981–82 28,963 51,896 11.2
1982–83 33,000 55,198 6.4
1983–84 36,881 58,958 6.8
1984–85 39,957 60,831 3.2
1985–86 43,502 62,765 3.2
1986–87 46,859 65,456 4.3
1987–88 48,934 64,829 -1.0

Expenditure £ million Percentage change in real terms over previous year
Cash 1991–92 prices
1988–89 49,745 61,488 -5.2
1989–90 52,849 61,346 -0.2
1990–91 59,183 63,326 3.2
1991–92 68,493 68,493 8.2

Notes:

(1) 1991–92 figures are estimated outturn.

(2) The real terms decrease over the period 1987–88 to 1989–90 is largely attributable to the fall in unemployment since 1986.

Mr. Meacher

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will update his answer of 15 December 1989,Official Report, column 852, concerning social security spending, to include 1990–91 and 1991–92.

Miss Widdecombe

The information requested is given in the table.

Expenditure £ million Per 100,000 population £ million
Year Cash 1978–79 prices Cash 1978–79 prices Percentage of GDP
1978–79 16,437 16,437 30.1 30.1 9–63
1979–80 19,416 16,641 35.5 30.4 9.48
1980–81 23,483 17,008 42.9 31.0 10.06
1981–82 28,582 18,879 52.1 34.4 11.16
1982–83 32,451 20,009 59.3 36.5 11.57
1983–84 35,159 20,719 64.2 37.8 11.56
1984–85 39,716 22,289 72.3 40.6 12.20
1985–86 43,237 22,996 78.5 41.8 12.13
1986–87 46,611 24,001 84.4 43.5 12.15
1987–88 48,771 23,818 88.1 43.0 11.49
1988–89 49,419 22,518 89.1 40.6 10.46
1989–90 52,182 22,328 93.8 40.1 10.18
1990–91 56,077 22,118 100.5 39.6 10.10
1991–92 65,116 24,003 116.3 42.9 11.07

Notes:

1. 1991–92 figures are estimated outturn.

2. Expenditure figures from 1978–79 to 1983–84 are based on the old planning total; those for 1984–85 onwards are based on the new planning total, with statutory sick pay, statutory maternity pay, and further housing benefit elements included for the first time.