HC Deb 21 February 1963 vol 672 c78W
32. Mr. Wainwright

asked the Minister of Education if he will state the percentage of the national income which was spent on education for the years 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961 and 1962, respectively; and what is the estimated figure for 1963.

Sir E. Boyle

The expenditure on education of public authorities in the United Kingdom as a percentage of the Gross National Product has been as follows:—

Financial Year Percentage
1957–58 … … … 3.8
1958–59 … … … 4.0
1959–60 … … … 4.1
1960–61 … … … 4.2
1961–62 … … 4.4

I estimate that the proportion in the current financial year will be 4.7 per cent., and in 1963–64 4.9 per cent.

The figures in the Answer exclude expenditure on:—

  1. (i) school meals and milk (about 0.4 per cent. of the Gross National Product in England and Wales);
  2. (ii) private expenditure on education (another 0.4 per cent in the United Kingdom)
  3. (iii) public libraries and museums, and the educational expenditure of the Service Departments.

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