§ Mr. Sproatasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, further to his answer to Written Question on 2nd November 1976, Official Report, column 558. to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South, if he will now estimate what other single item of Government spending will exceed the 20.7 per cent. of Government spending he estimates will be spent on social security and unemployment benefits in 1976–77; and if he will give his latest estimate of the percentage to be spent in the same period on education, housing, hospitals, roads and defence.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettIn 1976–77 no other single item is expected to exceed 20.7 per cent. of total central Government expenditure, including all debt interest payments. Expenditure on education and libraries science and arts, housing, health and personal social services, roads, and defence in 1976–77 is estimated as 29 per cent of total central Government expenditure on the same basis.