Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask Her Majesty's Government how much the UK spends on family benefits; and how this compares to other countries in the OECD.

The latest data shows that the UK spends 3.8 per cent of GDP on expenditure classified by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This is more than any other country in the OECD.

“Family benefits” include cash benefits, such as person tax credits, Child Benefit; maternity benefits and child Disability Living Allowance; and benefits in kind covering child care and social services. They do not include other benefits that might be available to the claimant, such as Personal Independence Payment or Housing Benefit.