HC Deb 24 May 1973 vol 857 cc656-7
19. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the main forms of Government expenditure per head of the population of the United Kingdom per week; and how the amounts have changed in recent years.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

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

Mr. Hugh Jenkins

Does the hon. Gentleman recall the small posters which used to be issued by successive Governments giving, on the one hand, the sources of the national income and, on the other hand, the sources and means of expenditure of the national income? Will he draw up a poster relating to 1970 and 1973 and consider issuing such posters in future, so that large numbers of people who are not accustomed to reading complicated balance sheets can gain some grasp of these problems?

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I shall consider that helpful suggestion. I am sure that people would be very eager to recognise

WEEKLY PUBLIC EXPENDITURE PER HEAD IN COST TERMS
pence at estimated 1972–73 prices*
1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 provisional 1972–73 estimate
Defence Budget … … … 98 102 104 103
Other Military defence … … … 4 2 2 2
Overseas aid … … … 8 8 8 9
EEC and other external relations … … … 5 5 5 7
Agriculture, fisheries and forestry … … … 17 16 18 21
Research Councils etc. … … … 4 4 5 5
Trade, industry and employment: … … …
Investment grants … … … 26 24 18 13
Other … … … 27 27 30 48
Nationalised industries capital expenditure … … 61 67 60 63
Roads … … … 30 34 32 36
Surface transport … … … 9 8 8 10
Housing … … … 49 49 45 51
Miscellaneous local services … … … 34 37 40 44
Law and Order … … … 24 26 28 31
Arts … … … 1 1 1 1
Education and libraries … … … 108 114 120 126
Health and personal social services … … … 88 95 98 104
Social security … … … 167 164 170 179
Financial administration … … … 11 10 11 15
Common services … … … 8 9 10 11
Miscellaneous services … … … 3 4 4 4
Total (excluding debt interest) … … … 782 806 820 885
Source: Cmnd. 5178, Table 2A, with adjustments; Registrar's General, mid-year population estimates.
* Including relative price effect.