Mr. RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the level of social security expenditure as a percentage of GDP is(a) in the United Kingdom and (b) on average in the other EU member states. [126978]
256W
§ Mr. DarlingComparative data across European Union member states are published by the Statistical Office of the European Communities. It produces comparisons of expenditure on social protection using a broader definition than Social Security alone. The definition includes spending on health, social services, active labour market policies and public sector occupational pensions. The most recent figures are for 1997 and show that UK spending on social protection represented 26.8 per cent. of Gross Domestic Product, compared with an EU average of 28.2 per cent.
Source:
Social protection: expenditure and receipts, 1999 edition, Eurostat.