§ Mr. Lomasasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the gross national product is spent by the Government; and how much is spent by each Department.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettCentral Government expenditure as defined in the national income accounts was 40½ per cent. of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 1976–77. The table below shows, also as a proportion of GDP Supply expenditure in that year by Departments; where one Minister is responsible for several Departments these are grouped together. Total Supply expenditure amounted to 29½ per cent. of GDP in 1976–77. Most of the remaining Central Government expenditure was on national insurance benefits—some 6½ per cent. of GDP—and gross debt interest payments—some 3 per cent. All these figures include transfers and loans to local authorities, public corporations and the private sector for spending by them as well as direct expenditure by central Government.
Central Government supply expenditure 1976–77 by Ministerial responsibility As a percentage of GDP at market prices Environment1 8.5 Social Services 6.9 Defence 4.5 Scotland 1.8 Industry 1.1 Education and Science 1.1 Home 0.9 Chancellor of the Exchequer 0.8 Employment 0.7 Trade 0.5 Overseas Development 0.5 Northern Ireland 0.4 Wales 0.4 Prices and Consumer Protection 0.3 Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 0.3 Energy 0.2 Foreign and Commonwealth 0.1 Other 0.3 1 Includes the Department of Transport.