HC Deb 18 January 1979 vol 960 cc875-6W
Mr. Baker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of public expenditure in the years 1975–76, 1976–77 and 1977–78; and what amounts were paid in those years for salaries and pensions to public employees; and if he can give an estimate for the year 1978–79.

Mr. Joel Barnett,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th January 1979; Vol. 960, c. 666],gave the following information

The salaries and pensions component of public expenditure is shown in the table below together with the public expenditure estimates published in Cmnd. 7439. The figures for salaries and pensions include employers' and employees' contributions to national insurance and to occupational pension schemes and in the case of pension schemes like those for the Armed Forces and civil servants actual pensions paid. No estimates are available for 1978–79.

Public expenditure Salaries and pensions paid to public employees £ million
1975–76 49,690 15,399
1976–77 54,830 17,416
1977–78 58,190 18,723

Mr. Baker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount paid in the years 1975–76, 1976–77, 1977–78 and the estimate for 1978–79 in salaries and pensions for all employees in the public sector, including the nationalised industries.

Mr. Joel Barnett,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th January 1979; Vol. 960, c. 666],gave the following information

The salaries and pensions paid by general Government and public corporations combined are shown in the following table. Figures are not available on a financial year basis. An estimate is not available for 1978.

Salaries and pensions*
£ million
1975 23,261
1976 26,370
1977 28,561
*Including amounts charged to operating accounts and excluding pension payments made out of funded or notionally funded pension schemes but including employers' contributions to such schemes.

Source: National Accounts.