Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) and could get a full retirement pension. HRP could be awarded to any person receiving the non-income-related child benefit, or receiving income support to stay at home to look after an elderly or sick person, or regularly looking after someone receiving the attendance or constant attendance benefit for severely disabled people. The number of years of HRP was deducted from the number of qualifying years otherwise needed for a full retirement pension. 29. The social budget, far from shrinking, was growing. Social security expenditure, including social assistance, had increased in real terms from fiscal year 1981-1982 to fiscal year 1989-1990 by over 18 per cent, despite the decline in unemployment. The social expenditures for children, the elderly and the handicapped had increased by 37 per cent in real terms during the 1980s and the expenditures on community health service had grown by 35 per cent in real terms in the decade preceding the fiscal year 1987-1988. The National Health Service (NHS) budget had increased sharply, from 8 billion pounds in 1978 to some 28.7 billion pounds in 1990. The proportion of GNP spent by the public sector on child care had not increased in 10 years, but the State contribution was supplemented by a substantial contribution from voluntary bodies and the private sector. A system of tax relief encouraged employers to finance day care centres for the children of their employees, and the Department of Health provided funding for many voluntary bodies for that purpose. 30. In connection with the implementation of the provisions of article 12, some members of the Committee had asked for more information on abortion, and particularly the circumstances in which it was permitted in the United Kingdom. /.. . The Abortion Act of 1967 did not allow abortion on demand but it did allow social 
**Analysis**
The text primarily discusses social policies and expenditures in the United Kingdom, specifically related to social security, healthcare, and family benefits. It also touches on employment and taxation. The text does not seem to be focused on economic development, natural resources, agriculture, industry, transport, international trade, humanitarian aid, culture, or science and technology.

**Category**
Health, Employment