§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the monthly amount paid in interest on the national debt in 1978–79; and what is the average monthly total in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.
§ Mr. BiffenFollowing is the information:
Month and amount of interest paid in national debt (£million) April 1978 … … 215 May 1978 … … 734 June 1978 … … 230 July 1978 … … 809 August 1978 … … 359 September 1978 … … 548 October 1978 … … 305 November 1978 … … 844 December 1978 … … 407 January 1979 … … 902 February 1979 … … 404 March 1979 … … 612 The average monthly total of interest paid on the national debt in 1979–80 was £691 million.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he anticipates that the national debt will reach the total of £100,000,000,000, and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BiffenAs I informed my hon. Friend in answer to his question of 27 October, the provisional total for the national debt at 31 March 1980, the latest available date for which figures are available, is £95,327 million. There is no forward estimate of the national debt.