§ Mr. WillettsTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, pursuant to Table B12 on page 156 of the pre-Budget Report, if he will provide a breakdown of the revisions to forecast social security spending in each of the financial years(a) 1999–2000, (b) 2000–01 and (c) 2001–02 by (i) category of benefit and (ii) the factors leading to the revised figures. [99399]
§ Mr. DarlingEstimates of Departmental Annually Managed Expenditure for Great Britain made at the time of the March 1999 Budget are in Table 1 of the Social Security Departmental Report 1999 (Cm 4214).
Table A sets out the revised projections of expenditure for each DSS benefit from 1999–2000 to 2001–02, in respect of Great Britain. These estimates are comparable with figures in Table B 12 of the pre-Budget Report which are provided on a United Kingdom basis. I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for details of social security expenditure for Northern Ireland.
Table B sets out revised departmental projections of additional expenditure on Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit, met from local authorities' General Funds, or included within their Housing Revenue Accounts.
The sum of the total expenditure in Table A and the additional Local Authority expenditure in Table B is comparable with the grant total of social security spending on benefits in Table 8 of the Social Security Departmental Report 1999.
Paragraph B43 of the pre-Budget Report sets out the main factors affecting estimates of social security Annually Managed Expenditure since the March 1999 Budget.
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Table A: DSS annually managed expenditure £ million Projections 1999–2000 2000–01 2001–02 Other Industrial Injuries benefits 2 2 1 Jobseeker's Allowance—(Income-based) 2,929 3,023 3,075 Income Support—Under 60 8,411 8,913 9,099 Income Support—Over 60 3,756 4,033 4,196 Child Benefit 8,286 8,568 8,851 Family Credit 1,782 — — Earnings Top-Up Pilots and Vaccine Damage Payment 30 5 0 Independent Living Fund 127 136 144 Motability and Blesma 3 4 4 Social Fund including Winter Fuel Bonus 984 1,008 1,009 Housing Benefit 6,056 7,016 7,421 Council Tax Benefit 2,267 2,640 2,771 HB and CTB incentive/discretionary schemes 21 20 20 Television Licences for over 75s 0 117 283 DSS Annually Managed Expenditure Total 93,812 95,594 99,986 Note:
Figures may not sum due to rounding
Table B: Non-DSS expenditure on social security benefits (Great Britain) £ million Additional expenditure Housing Benefit Council Tax Benefit 1999–2000 5,409 312 2000–01 5,079 201 2001–02 5,291 273