Written question asked by Lord Howarth of Newport (Labour), in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 14 February 1997. It was answered by Andrew Mitchell (Conservative) on Friday, 14 February 1997 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: What is the current percentage of public spending taken up by social security; what was the equivalent figure in (a) 1979, (b) 1987 and (c) 1992; and what has been the percentage increase since 1979. - Figures given.

Answer: Mr. Alan Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the current percentage of public spending taken up by social security; what was the equivalent figure in (a) 1979, (b) 1987 and (c) 1992; and what has been the percentage increase since 1979. [15426] Mr. Andrew Mitchell: The information is set out in the table: Grand total of social security expenditure expressed as a percentage of General Government Expenditure (X) (GGE (X)) 1979-80: 23 per cent. 1987-88: 28 per cent. 1992-93: 30 per cent. 1996-97: 31 per cent. This is a percentage increase of 35 per cent. between 1979-80 and 1996-97. Sources: 1. March 1996 social security departmental report and earlier equivalents. 2. Financial statement and budget report 1996-97. The figures for the relevant years are shown in Table 6a: Point 1. Notes: 1. Outturn figures are used for the period 1979-80, 1987-88 and 1992-93. The figure for 1996-97 is estimated outturn. 2. Grand total of social security spending; this includes both expenditure on benefits and their administration as well as additional local authority spending on housing and council tax/community charge benefit. 3. General Government Expenditure (X)" (GGE(X)); this excludes privatisation proceeds, expenditure out of the proceeds of the national lottery, and receipt of interest and dividends from public corporations and the private sector.

Secondary information