§ Mr. HinchliffeTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what comparative figures he has on the administrative costs as a proportion of social security spending in the United Kingdom and other members of the European Community.
§ Mr. ScottThe latest information available on administrative costs as a proportion of social protection (social security plus health) spending in each member state of the EC is contained in the Eurostat publication, "Social protection expenditure and receipts 1985–1988". Care must be taken when comparing any European data sets because of differences in definition.
Eurostat regularly publishes "Social protection expenditure and receipts". The latest edition covers the period 83W 1980–91 and includes more recent data on administrative costs, but does not show these as a proportion of social protection spending.
Copies of both publications are in the House of Commons Library.