asked Her Majesty's Government:What was the total budget for the social security single payment fund for 1986–87; what was the actual expenditure on single payments, and what was the cost of administration as a percentage of the budget.

Single Payment expenditure is not budgeted. The outturn expenditure for 1986–87 was £330 million. The cost to the Department of salaries and employer's national insurance contributions was a further £39 million, equivalent to 12 per cent. of the benefit disbursed.