§ Mr. Knoxasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of personal savings in each of the past five years.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 11 February 1982, c. 475]Figures for 1981 are not yet available. Estimates of saving by the personal sector, before providing for stock appreciation, depreciation and additions to tax reserves, are as follows for the years 1976 to 1980:
Personal saving Year £ billion 1976 9.9 1977 10.4 1978 14.8 1979 20.1 1980 25.4 Personal saving is defined as in the national accounts, that is, as the difference between personal disposable income and consumers' expenditure. The series is published regularly, on annual and quarterly bases, on page 58 of Economic Trends.