§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if, for each state benefit, he will forecast the number of claimants and total cost by benefit for Scotland for the next three years together with forecasts for(a) Scotland's pro-rata share of the United Kingdom administration costs and (b) budgeted costs for the central and local administration and the branch network for facilities in Scotland. [92390]
§ Mr. TimmsI refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the right hon. Friend the Member for Swansea, West (Mr. Williams) on 23 July 1999,Official Report, column 673.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what was the level of spending on social security in Scotland in each of the last five years(a) in total and (b) as a percentage of the United Kingdom total broken down to show spending on (i) benefit payments, (ii) Scotland's pro-rata share of United Kingdom administration costs and (iii) actual spending on central and local administration and the branch network for facilities in Scotland. [92389]
§ Mr. TimmsDSS accounts for its administrative costs operationally (by Agency and Business Unit). It does not maintain accounting records by geographical territory and it is therefore not possible to provide reliable expenditure information covering all Departmental operations in the format requested. An estimate of Social Security Benefit Expenditure in Scotland in the past five years can be found in the table.
107WEstimated Social Security benefit expenditure in Scotland (and as a percentage of Great Britain expenditure)
Year Expenditure (£ million) Percentage 1994–95 7,970 10.0 1995–96 8,300 9.9 1996–97 8,680 9.9 1997–98 8,920 10.0 1998–99 9,120 10.0 Notes:
1. Expenditure excludes payments of certain benefits to people living overseas.
2. Expenditure figures have been rounded to nearest £10 million.
Source:
The above figures are consistent with those published in the Departmental Report 1999.