§ Mr. Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total amount of civil expenditure in 1938 and in each financial year since 1945.
§ Mr. H. Brooke:The information is as follows:
CIVIL EXPENDITURE OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXCHEQUER ISSUES (£ million) — Consolidated Fund Services Civil Supply Services Total 1938–39 244. 3 441. 3 685. 6 1945–46 485. 3 589. 0 1,074. 3 1946–47 577. 9 1,679. 1 2,257. 0 1947–48 556. 6 1,799. 0 2,355. 6 1948–49 541. 8 1,880. 7 2,422. 5 1949–50 538. 5 2,096. 1 2,634. 6 1950–51 544. 7 1,935. 2 2,479. 9 1951–52 592. 1 2,351. 4 2,943. 5 1952–53 666. 8 2,280. 1 2,946. 9 1953–54 674. 8 2,235. 2 2,910. 0 1954–55 664. 8 2,204. 0 2,868. 8 The figures for Civil Supply Services exclude all defence costs (including Ministry of Supply expenditure apportioned to defence). There may have been changes in definition from time to time which affect comparability. "Self-balancing" expenditure is excluded.
77WThe figures for the years 1938–39 to 1953–54 are derived from Statistical Abstract No. 91, Table 255, which is based on the Finance Accounts of the United Kingdom. The figure for 1954–55 is taken from the Financial Statement (1955–56), Table I.