§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they can supply yearly figures, for each year from 1953 onwards (including O.E.C.D. or other reliable forecasts for the current year), which will convey the following information:
- (a) the G.N.P. of each of the six E.E.C. countries, the United Kingdom, and each of the EFTA countries;
- (b) the yearly percentage increase or decrease compared with the preceding year;
- (c) similar figures expressed in terms per head of the population and the working population;
- (d) an index figure for each year showing the cost of living in each country as compared with a basic figure of 100 for the United Kingdom;
- (e) the value of Marshall Aid to each country during the period.
| GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT MARKET PRICES PER HEAD OF THE WORKING POPULATION (Dollars) | |||||||||||||
| 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | |
| Belgium | 2,770 | 2,820 | 2,910 | 3,120 | 3,310 | 3,500 | 3,750 | 4,150 | 4,520 | 4,820 | 5,160 | 5,430 | 5,900 |
| France | 2,830 | 2,910 | 2,810 | 3,110 | 3,390 | 3,770 | 4,180 | 4,600 | 4,900 | 5,270 | 5,630 | 6,120 | 6,680 |
| Germany | 1,970 | 2,250 | 2,280 | 2,730 | 3,090 | 3,340 | 3,560 | 3,900 | 4,220 | 4,500 | 4,640 | 5,060 | 5,680 |
| Italy | 1,290 | 1,390 | 1,500 | 1,680 | 1,850 | 2,110 | 2,470 | 2,690 | 2,930 | 3,210 | 3,510 | 3,780 | 4,150 |
| Luxembourg | 3,280 | 3,280 | 3,360 | 3,660 | 3,810 | 3,820 | 4,040 | 4,640 | 4,820 | 5,000 | 5,140 | 5,610 | 6,360 |
| Netherlands | 2,230 | 2,280 | 2,440 | 2,680 | 2,910 | 3,090 | 3,320 | 3,840 | 4,250 | 4,550 | 5,000 | 5,470 | 6,030 |
| Austria | 1,500 | 1,550 | 1,630 | 1,840 | 2,030 | 2,170 | 2,340 | 2,550 | 2,780 | 3,020 | 3,260 | 3,480 | 3,810 |
| Denmark | 2,440 | 2,670 | 2,840 | 3,110 | 3,450 | 3,620 | 4,080 | 4,520 | 4,840 | 5,180 | 5,220 | 5,910 | |
| Norway | 2,760 | 2,760 | 2,940 | 3,110 | 3,360 | 3,600 | 3,870 | 4,250 | 4,700 | 5,100 | 5,550 | 5,920 | 6,330 |
| Portugal | 660 | 670 | 720 | 780 | 830 | 880 | 940 | 1,030 | 1,150 | 1,250 | 1,410 | 1,580 | 1,740 |
| Sweden | 3,080 | 3,180 | 3,340 | 3,570 | 3,850 | 4,120 | 4,400 | 4,940 | 5,430 | 5,840 | 6,330 | 6,610 | 7,150 |
| Switzerland | 2,940 | 3,060 | 3,250 | 3,450 | 3,770 | 3,940 | 4,250 | 4,610 | 5,030 | 5,490 | 5,880 | 6,340 | 6,870 |
| United Kingdom | 2,490 | 2,630 | 2,760 | 2,880 | 3,040 | 3,170 | 3,340 | 3,600 | 3,850 | 4,080 | 4,240 | 4,000 | 4,280 |
| Figures prior to 1957 (1958 in the case of Denmark) are not available on a comparable basis. |
THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (EARL JELLICOE)My Lords, most of the information sought by the noble Lord is available in O.E.C.D. publications, and I think it would be wasteful to reproduce these extensive tables in the OFFICIAL REPORT. With permission, however, I shall circulate in the Report the titles of the publications and reference from which the noble Lord can obtain the information that he seeks, together with such information as is not contained in O.E.C.D. publications.
§
Following is the information referred to:
Most of the information is given in National Accounts of O.E.C.D. Countries, 1953–1969, The G.N.P. at market prices, converted to U.S. dollars at the official exchange rate for each year, is given for each country both in total and per head of population on page 10. The corresponding figures at constant prices are given in the form of index numbers on page 11. The yearly changes in G.N.P. at constant prices compared with the preceding year are given from page 400 onwards. The National Accounts volume does not give figures per head of the working population but these have been calculated using data from the O.E.C.D. publication of Labour Force Statistics and these are given below. Price indices for private consumption, taking 1963 = 100 for each country, are given on page 13 of the National Accounts volume, but it is not possible to use these to compare the level of prices in other countries with that in the United Kingdom because of the differences in the patterns of consumption and of internal prices between one country and another. Figures of G.N.P. for 1970 are not yet available. Forecasts for the present year for major O.E.C.D. countries are contained in the O.E.C.D. publication. Economic Outlook, published in July. In the case of the United Kingdom, the O.E.C.D. forecast was prepared before the measures announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on July 19, when he said that he expected a rate of growth of output of 4 to 4½ per cent. between the first halves of 1971 and 1972. There were no commitments in respect of Marshall Aid for the years after 1952, and I have no record of any payments which may have been made during the period from 1953 onwards.
§ LORD LEATHERLANDMy Lords, thank the noble Earl for that reply. But does he not think it is calculated to arouse suspicions in the minds of many people who may be favourable to entry into the Economic Community, but who may be tilted the other way by the refusal of the Government to come out straightforwardly with all the information, impartially and objectively, on this question?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I think suspicions would be aroused only in the minds of the suspicious. If I had answered in extenso the five questions put to me by the noble Lord, I think it might have taken me to well past three o'clock.
§ LORD SLATERMy Lords, in view of the implications involved in this particular Question, is one to assume that we have not attached to this House a research department through which such information could be made available to Members of the House and circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT, as requested?
EARL JELLICOEMy Lords, I think that is another question. Before leaping to conclusions, it might be advisable for noble Lords to wait and see the information which is provided in the OFFICIAL REPORT as promised in my Answer.