HC Deb 18 March 1993 vol 221 cc378-9W
Mr. Knox

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will show expenditure on social security as percentages of gross domestic product in each member state of the EC in 1975, 1985 and the latest year available.

Mr. Burt

Information is not available to compare social security expenditure in each member state of the EC. Comparisons are made of social protection expenditure, which embraces a greater range of functions and includes items such as the supply of health services. A comparison of social protection expenditure is in the table.

Expenditure on social protection as percentage of GDP
Member state 1975 1985 1989
Belgium 24.2 29.3 26.7
Denmark 25.8 27.8 29.6
Germany 29.7 28.2 27.3
Greece n/a2 15.4 116.3
Spain n/a2 17.8 17.3

Member state 1975 1985 1989
France 22.9 28.8 28.0
Ireland 19.7 24.0 20.6
Italy 19.6 22.5 23.2
Luxembourg 22.4 25.5 25.6
Netherlands 26.7 31.1 30.2
Portugal n/a2 16.1 18.1
United Kingdom 20.1 24.4 120.6

Source: Eurostat.

1Estimate.

2Not an EC member in 1975.