§ Mr. Ieuan Wyn JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what estimates he has for the overall cost of provision for income maintenance in Wales; and if he will indicate(a) the estimated cash expenditures, (b) the estimated tax expenditures and (c) the estimated costs of administration.
§ Mr. BurtInformation is not available in the precise form requested. The only income maintenance cash expenditure information available specifically for people residing in Wales is expenditure on housing benefit and income support. The latest available expenditure figures are £380 million for housing benefit1 for 1992–93 and £442 million for income support2 for 1989–90. The latest estimates for personal tax allowances and tax relief on earnings and investments, excluding MIRAS, are around £6,740 million for 1990–91.
The latest estimate for the cost of the administration of all social security benefits by the Benefits Agency in Wales is £55.3 million for 1992–93. The estimated budget for the administration of tax in Wales for 1993–94 is £78 million3.
Notes:
1 Table 8.7 of CSO Regional Trends 27 (1992).
2 Figures underlying Table of the Departmental Report (Cm. 2213).
3 Excludes any apportionment to Wales for expenditure on forms and central computer systems.