Abstract
A RETURN showing the total expenditure under certain Acts of Parliament in the financial years 1900,1910, 1920,1930,1935 and 1936 on public social services has recently been issued, covering expenditure from local rates, Parliamentary votes and other receipts, not being loans or receipts for capital purposes. The first part of the return shows that the total expenditure on these services in England and Wales has increased from £31·7 millions in 1900 and £54·95 millions in 1910 to £412·8 millions in 1930 and £440·5 millions in 1935. For 1936, the expenditure is estimated at 326 millions. The largest single item of expenditure is that under the Education Acts, which has increased from 16·9 millions in 1910 to 97 millions in 1935. Expenditure under the General Scheme of Unemployment Benefit in 1935 was 45·7 millions and Unemployment Allowances and Benefits 38·9 millions. Expenditure under the Old Age Pensions Acts has risen from 6-3 millions in 1910 to 39 millions in 1935, under the National Health Insurance Acts from 26 millions in 1920 to 34 millions in 1935. Under the Housing Acts expenditure has risen from 0·4 millions in 1900 to 42 millions in 1935, while under the Acts relating to the relief of the poor, expenditure has risen from 11·5 millions in 1900 to 44 millions in 1935. Public Health Acts now account for an expenditure of 16 millions as against a little over a million in 1900. Expenditure under the War Pensions Acts and Ministry of Pensions Act has decreased from 90-9 millions in 1920 to 36 millions in 1935. Expenditure in Scotland on the same services shows similar trends, the total having risen from £4-3 millions in 1900 to £50-3 millions in 1935. Particulars of the number of persons benefiting from this expenditure are included.
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Expenditure on Public Social Services. Nature 141, 1132 (1938). https://doi.org/10.1038/1411132b0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/1411132b0