Benefits Expenditure

HC Deb 19 November 1996 vol 285 cc505-6W

Ms Mowlam

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will list public expenditure on benefits for each of the last 10 years(a) in real terms and (b) as a proportion of total spending for Northern Ireland. [3863]

Mr. Moss

The information requested is given in the table:

Year	Benefit spend1 £ million	Benefit spend as percentage of total spend
1985–86	2,001.3	29.24
1986–87	2,108.1	30.17
1987–88	2,103.6	29.51
1988–89	2,058.8	27.28
1989–90	2,044.5	27.59

Year	Benefit spend1 £ million	Benefit spend as percentage of total spend
1990–91	2,076.4	28.95
1991–92	2,229.6	30.25
1992–93	2,425.1	31.33
1993–94	2,632.6	32.49
1994–95	2,773.3	33.30
1995–962	2,896.8	33.78
1Figures are at 1996–97 prices.
2Estimated figures.