HL Deb 04 May 1976 vol 370 c522

Lord BARNBY asked Her Majesty's Government:

What the £6,461 million estimate for Accumulated Debt Service (Budget Report 1976–77, page 15) represents per capita per annum; and what is the authoritative rate of inflation recorded during the last Budget period.

Lord JACQUES

The forecast of public sector debt interest in 1976–77 of £6,461 million shown in the Financial Statement and Budget Report represents about £115 per head of home population. The retail price index for April 1976 is not yet available. The increase in the RPI between March 1975 and March 1976 was 21 .2 per cent.