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Mr. Meacher
To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what has been the expenditure change in real terms between 1979–80 and 1989–90 for each of the beneficiary groups in table 14.9 of the public expenditure White Paper; and what is the total expenditure change on benefits in real terms during the same period.
Mrs. Gillian Shephard
[holding answer 5 March 1990]: The information is given in the table.
£ million | ||||
1979–80 cash | 1979–80 at 1989–90 prices | 1989–90 | Percentage increase | |
Elderly people | 10,130 | 20,411 | 25,550 | 25 |
Sick and disabled people | 2,780 | 5,601 | 9,520 | 70 |
Family | 3,570 | 7,193 | 9,200 | 28 |
Unemployed people | 1,470 | 2,962 | 4,740 | 60 |
Widows and orphans | 760 | 1,531 | 1,240 | -19 |
Total benefit expenditure | 18,780 | 37,837 | 50,246 | 33 |