The welfare cap
Since 2014 the UK government has had a cap on welfare spending. Here we explain how the cap is set and assessed. We also look at how the cap has changed.

This briefing paper gives figures on public spending in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also gives figures for the English regions.
Public spending by country and region (551 KB , PDF)
This briefing paper gives figures on the level of public spending in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. It also gives figures for the English regions.
In 2021/22, public spending per person in the UK as a whole was £11,897. In England, it was £11,549 (3% below the UK average). This compares with:
Among the English regions, public spending per person was lowest in the East Midlands at £10,528 (12% below the UK average) and highest in London at £13,719 (15% higher than the UK average).
The data shown are for public spending per person and are taken from HM Treasury’s Country and regional analysis: 2022, which contains more detailed information including spending by function (health, education etc).
Spending figures for 2020/21 and 2021/22 reflect the unusual spending situation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, and are different in some respects from spending patterns in previous years.
Public spending by country and region (551 KB , PDF)
Since 2014 the UK government has had a cap on welfare spending. Here we explain how the cap is set and assessed. We also look at how the cap has changed.
Since the 1990s, UK governments have had debt and borrowing targets. Here we look at the UK's fiscal targets and wider policy for managing the public finances.
Latest data on government net borrowing and net debt.