§ Mr. CallaghanTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the expenditure in 1995 of providing(a) maternity payments, (b) funeral expenses and (c) cold weather payments for the last three years expressed in (1) cash terms, (2) cash terms at 1992–93 prices and (3) as a percentage of total social security expenditure, (i) in total, (ii) by region and (iii) by his Department's offices. [9485]
§ Mr. Roger EvansThe information requested by region and district office could be provided only at disproportionate cost. Such information as is available is set out in the table.
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Cash terms (£ million) 1992–93 prices (£ million) Percentage of total social security benefit expenditure per cent. Great Britain expenditure April—December 1995 Maternity payments 16.21 15.05 See note 2 Funeral payments 35.61 33.06 See note 2 Cold weather payments 32.00 (estimate) 29.70 see note 2 Great Britain expenditure 1994–95 Maternity payments 22.24 21.21 0.03 Funeral payments 62.83 59.92 0.07 Cold weather payments 0.08 0.08 0.00
Cash terms (£ million) 1992–93 prices (£ million) Percentage of total social security benefit expenditure per cent. Great Britain expenditure 1993–94 Maternity payments 23.27 22.61 0.03 Funeral payments 62.46 60.69 0.08 Cold weather payments 12.40 12.05 0.02 Great Britain experience 1992–93 Maternity payments 23.07 23.07 0.03 Funeral payments 49.45 49.45 0.07 Cold weather payments 15.00 15.00 0.02 1. The percentage of total Social Security benefits expenditure has been calculated by reference to the figures in the Social Security Departmental Report for 1995. They include additional local authority expenditure on Housing Benefit, Community Charge Benefit and Council Tax Benefit.
2. Figures for total benefit expenditure figures for 1995–96 are not yet available; a reliable comparison, based on planned expenditure, for a part year cannot be made.
3. Figures for total benefit expenditure figures for 1994–95 are estimated outturn.
§ Mr. CorbynTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was(a) the total social fund expenditure, (b) income from re-paid grants for each year since 1988, (c) the proportion of total income required for administration and (d) the number of loans and grants paid each year. [11672]
§ Mr. Andrew MitchellThe information relating to total social fund expenditure, recoveries from pre-paid awards, and the number of loans and grants awarded for year since 1988 is contained in the Secretary of State's annual reports on the social fund, copies of which are available in the Library.
For information on administration costs since 1988, I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Islington South and Finsbury (Mr. Smith) on 29 November 1995, Official Report, columns 748–50.