HC Deb 08 June 1998 vol 313 cc475-6W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to her answer of 27 February 1998,Official Report, column 380, if she will provide a breakdown of the figures for non-cyclical social security expenditure between benefits for the (a) elderly and (b) non-elderly. [44653]

Mr. Field

The information requested is set out in the table.

Non-cyclical social security expenditure
£ million
Year Elderly Non-elderly
1978–79 26,918 16,882
1979–80 26,718 18,277
1980–81 27,025 17,392
1981–82 29,157 18,926
1982–83 30,532 19,626
1983–84 31,627 21,328
1984–85 31,943 22,213
1985–86 33,082 22,694
1986–87 34,453 23,774
1987–88 34,475 24,085
1988–89 33,423 23,802
1989–90 33,958 23,903
1990–91 34,835 25,139
1991–92 36,517 27,735
1992–93 37,673 31,283
1993–94 39,196 34,333
1994–95 39,456 35,661
1995–96 39,826 37,007
1996–97 40,799 38,312
1997–98 41,311 38,740
1998–99 41,820 39,212
1999–2000 42,274 39,819

Notes:

1. Figures have been taken from the 1997 Social Security Departmental Report as well as earlier equivalent publications. The figures exclude the cost of Administration

2. The figures for 1996–97 are estimates of expenditure in that year. Revised figures for the years 1996–97 to 1998–99 have been included in the 1998 Social Security Departmental Report. Figures for subsequent years are not included as they are subject to the findings of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the results of which are expected later this year

3. Benefits have been allocated according to the main reason they are paid in order to provide figures consistent with tables in the Social Security Departmental Report. This means that some benefits, such as Attendance Allowance, have been included in the non-elderly totals shown in the table, even though they may be paid to elderly people.

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