HC Deb 12 December 1974 vol 883 cc209-10W
27. Mr. Lawson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in Table 1 of the Supplementary Financial Statement and Budget Report, a rise in public investment from £1,950 million to £2,050 million (first half 1973 to first half 1974) represents a five per cent. change, and a rise from £1,950 million to £2,000 million (second half 1973 to first half 1975) represents a 0.5 per cent. change.

28. Mr. Banks

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in the Supplementary Financial Statement and Budget Report, in Table 1, the respective percentage change figures for total public expenditure, second half 1973 to second half 1974 and first half 1974 to first half 1975, do not correspond with the absolute changes shown earlier in the table.

29. Mr. Tugendhat

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in the Supplementary Financial Statement and Budget Report, Table 1 shows that the public investment figures for the second halves of 1973 and 1974 are identical, but the percentage figure shows a reduction.

Mr. Joel Barnett

In Table 1 of the Supplementary Financial Statement and Budget Report the figures are rounded to £50 million and ½ per cent. as appropriate. The percentage changes are rounded after they have been calculated from unrounded figures in £ million to prevent their being affected by purely rounding effects on the latter. The practice is unchanged from the Financial Statement and Budget Report of last March. Percentage changes shown for periods longer than one year are, as indicated on the table, expressed at annual rate.

30. Mr. Alison

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement as to why in the Supplementary Financial Statement and Budget Report, paragraph 16 implies a deceleration in gross domestic product, and Table 1 shows an acceleration.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Paragraph 16 of the Supplementary Financial Statement and Budget Report does not necessarily imply a deceleration in the growth of gross domestic product at current prices; it merely observes that the rate of growth of the money supply has been less than that of gross domestic product at current prices. Table 1 on the other hand refers to gross domestic product at constant prices.