§ Mr. Higginsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate annual figures for each year from 1964 to 1976 for the maximum number unemployed, the balance of payments and percentage changes in the cost of living, gross domestic product and real income per head.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesThe following table shows the figures requested. Number unemployed comprises the total number registered for employment, except registered severely disabled persons and adult students registered for vacation employment, in the month in which the highest count occurred during each year. Two measures of income per head are given, both at constant prices—national disposable income and personal disposable income. The former measures the resources available to the nation as a whole; the latter relates only to the personal sector. Changes in gross domestic product (GDP) at factor cost are also shown at constant prices. The measure of GDP used is the average of income, expenditure and output measures, which is regarded as being generally a better indicator of longer-term changes than any of the three measures individually. National Accounts figures for the whole of 1976 are not yet available.
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1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 Maximum number unemployed (month): Jan. Jan. Dec. Dec. Jan. Jan. Jan. Dec. Jan. Jan. Aug. Dec. Aug. Great Britain (thousands) 478 367 467 559 600 584 612 868 927 769 629 1,152 1,440 United Kingdom (thousands) 516 399 503 596 639 625 649 911 972 806 661 1,201 1,502 Balance of payments: Current balance (£ million) -355 -26 +101 -298 -272 +460 +733 +1,084 +154 -712 -3,323 -1,656 -1,526* General index of retail prices (all items): Per cent. increase on previous year +3.3 +4.7 +3.9 +2.6 +4.7 +5.4 +6.4 +9.4 +7.1 +9.1 +16.0 +24.2 +16.5 Gross domestic product at constant factor cost (average measure per head):* Per cent, change on previous year +5.2 +2.1 +1.3 +1.6 +3.5 +1.7 +1.7 +1.4 +2.3 +5.4 -0.2 -2.1 +0.7‡ National disposable income at constant market prices per head:† Per cent, change on previous year +4.0 +2.3 +1.5 +1.4 +2.8 +2.1 +2.6 +1.8 +2.9 +4.3 -4.7 -0.4 N.A. Real personal disposable income per head:‡ Per cent, change on previous year +3.2 +1.7 +1.7 +0.9 +1.5 +0.4 +3.4 +1.9 +7.5 +5.8 +1.9 -0.7 -1.2‡ * Preliminary estimate including for the fourth quarter a projection of the invisible surplus. † Per head of total population. ‡ Preliminary estimate based on first three quarters and projection for the fourth quarter. N.A.=Not available.