To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is his estimate of the change in social security spending in real terms between 1979 and 1992–93 and the proportion of this rise due to (a) increased benefits levels, (b) changes in demographic and family patterns and (c) changes in levels of unemployment.

Information in the form requested is not available, but the 1993 departmental report contains information about benefit expenditure on certain categories of beneficiaries. A copy of the report is in the Library. In real terms, social security spending, at 1992–93 prices, has risen from £46,341 million in 1978–79 to £78,343 million in 1992–93.