§ 30. Mr. Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of the gross national product taken in home consumption in the years 1950, 1951. 1952 and 1953, respectively.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. R. Maudling)The percentage of the gross national product taken in personal consumption in each of the years 1950 to 1953 is as follows:
| per cent. | |
| 1950 | 68.0 |
| 1951 | 66.1 |
| 1952 | 64.9 |
| 1953 | 63.5 |
§ The figure for 1953 is a provisional estimate.
§ Mr. ShepherdWould my hon. Friend, in his spare time, try to arrive at a determination of the optimum personal consumption out of the total national product?
§ Mr. MaudlingI think that the optimum personal consumption is the maximum the nation can afford.