§ Mr. Stuart Hollandasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the proportion of total Government expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product at current prices in 1976, 1977 and 1978 in the following countries: the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium, West Germany, Italy, Canada, France, Austria, United States, Australia and Japan.
§ Mr. BiffenThe information requested is given, so far as it is available, in the table below:72W
GENERAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE* AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT MARKET PRICES 1976 1977 Netherlands 55.4 55.8 Sweden 54.2 60.1 Norway 49.0 51.0 United Kingdom 46.0 44.3 Denmark N/A N/A Belgium 45.1 46.7 West Germany 44.3 44.4 Italy 45.1 46.0 Canada 39.6 40.3 France 43.0 44.1 Austria 44.4 44.7 United States 35.0 34.2 Australia 32.8 N/A Japan 26.6 27.9 * Expenditure by central and local government combined, excluding capital transfers, loans and expenditure on the acquisition of company securities, for which figures on an internationally comparable basis are not available. Source: National accounts of OECD countries 1977 Volume II.