HC Deb 31 July 1956 vol 557 c1138
34. Mr. Harold Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average Government expenditure per day for each year from 1945 to 1956 with a comparison for the year 1938.

Mr. H. Macmillan

As the Answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Davies

Can I have now the last two sets of figures?

Mr. Macmillan

I could read them all out, but it is a very long list. The last are £12.3 million and £12.6 million.

Mr. Davies

Very useful information.

Following is the Answer: Average expenditure per day by the Government in 1938 and in 1946 to 1955 was as follows:
£ million
1938 … … … … 2.8
1946 … … … … 11.1
1947 … … … … 9.3
1948 … … … … 9.2
1949 … … … … 9.9
1950 … … … … 9.7
1951 … … … … 11.2
1952 … … … … 12.1
1953 … … … … 12.5
1954 … … … … 12.3
1955 … … … … 12.6

I regret that comparable figures for 1945 and for 1956 are not available.

The figures relate to expenditure by the Central Government (excluding the National Insurance Funds) on goods and services, both on current and capital account, and expenditure on grants, subsidies and Debt interest. The expenditure figures are those used in (he National Income Blue Book for 1956, which is to be published in mid-August.