§ 24. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to give, for the current financial year, the percentage of the gross national product taken by central and local government expenditure, including National and Health Insurance contributions and interest on loans to local authorities and public corporations.
§ Mr. DiamondNo. Sir. An estimate of the gross national product for the twelve months ending March, 1969, will not be published until July next year.
§ Mr. DigbyIs it not a fact that Government claims on the gross national product are increasing much faster than the latest predictions for the product itself?
§ Mr. DiamondNo. I have just answered that point. The estimate of increase on any public expenditure next year is 1 per cent. and the estimate for increase in gross national product is much greater than that.