HC Deb 16 November 1998 vol 319 cc404-5W
Mr. Webb

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will estimate(a) the percentage increase in cash terms and (b) the percentage increase in real terms in the grand total of (1) all social security expenditure and (2) non-cyclical social security expenditure, including in each case relevant expenditure by local government and by all departments of central Government, and including the cost of the working families tax credit, between (i) 1978–79 and 1982–83, (ii) 1982–83 and 1986–87, (iii) 1986–87 and 1991–92, (iv) 1991–92 and 1996–97 and (v) 1996–97 and 2001–02; and if he will set out in each case the totals which underlie these estimates. [59863]

Mr. Darling

The information requested is in the tables.

Percentage increase in expenditure
1978–79 to 1982–83 1982–83 to 1986–87 1986–87 to 1991–92 1991–92 to 1996–97 1996–97 to 2001–02
Grand total
Cash 98.8 41.9 48.2 38.4 25.7
Real 22.9 18.7 7.4 21.3 10.8
Non-cyclical social security benefit expenditure
Cash 85.8 38.6 52.4 41.1 21.3
Real 14.9 15.9 10.5 23.7 6.8

Expenditure
£ million
1978–79 1982–83 1986–87 1991–92 1996–97 2001–02
Cash prices
Grant total1 16,605 33,008 46,851 69,441 96,081 120,809
Total DSS expenditure 16,410 32,381 46,496 65,089 90,289 105,765
Total expenditure by other Government departments2 195 627 355 4,352 5,793 15,044
Non-cyclical social security expenditure 14,241 26,457 36,672 55,903 78,885 95,684
Real terms (1997–98 prices)
Grant total1 51,866 63,766 75,704 81,300 98,580 109,180
Total DSS expenditure 51,257 62,555 75,130 76,205 92,637 95,584
Total expenditure by other Government departments2 609 1,211 574 5,095 5,943 13,596
Non-cyclical social security benefit expenditure 44,482 51,111 59,256 65,450 80,936 86,474
1 Includes DSS, other Government Departments' and Local Authority Benefit Expenditure and Administration costs. For 2001–02 the figures also include the cost of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit.
1Expenditure includes the cost of assistance with Housing costs met by Local Authorities and reflects the changes made to Housing Benefit schemes since 1978. For 2001–02 the figures also include the cost of the Working Families Tax Credit and the Disabled Person's Tax Credit.