§ 10. Mr. Chapmanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what proportion of total public expenditure in 1984–85 will be represented by capital investment programmes.
§ Mr. Peter ReesTotal capital spending by the public sector in 1984–85 is expected to be about one fifth of the public expenditure planning total.
§ Mr. ChapmanIs that proportion planned to decline in the next financial year and, if so, will it be in the construction and civil engineering sector of the planned capital investment programme? If so, by how much?
§ Mr. ReesMy hon. Friend must await the table that we shall produce in the public expenditure White Paper, which mirrors table 1.13 in the previous public expenditure White Paper. Let me assure my hon. Friend and the House that the latest Department of Trade and Industry investment survey suggests a 10 per cent. increase and, indeed, a new high in construction and service industry investment in 1984 and a 9 per cent. increase in 1985.