HC Deb 28 October 1982 vol 29 cc516-7W
2. Mr. Ray Powell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now expects the assumption of 2.9 million unemployed in 1982–83, contained in his public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 8494, to be accurate.

Mr. Brittan

The assumption, which relates to the unemployed in Great Britain, excluding school leavers, is of the average numbers of unemployed in 1982–83 as a whole. The actual average for the first six months of 1982–83 was 2.8 million and so, taken together with our latest expectations for the year, the assumption of 2.9 million is still expected to be accurate.

Mr. Whitehead

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the total of local government expenditure, current and capital, in the United Kingdom in 1980 survey prices for each year since 1969–70(a)in total,(b)as a proportion of total Government expenditure and(c)as a proportion of the gross national product;

(2) if he will publish the total of central Government expenditure, current and capital, in the United Kingdom in 1980 survey prices for each year since 1969–70(a)in total,(b)as a proportion of total Government expenditure and(c)as a proportion of the gross national product.

Mr. Brittan

Figures for total central Government expenditure and total local authority expenditure are not available in 1980 survey prices. On the basis of definitions of public expenditure used in Cmnd. 8494, "The Government's Expenditure Plans 1982–83 to 1984–85", the figures requested are expressed below in cash terms, and as percentages of the public expenditure planning total and gross domestic product at market prices. Figures are not available before 1974–75.

Table 1
Local Government Public Expenditure in the public expenditure planning total
Total£billion As a proportion of the planning total Per cent. As a ratio to the gross domestic product at market prices Per cent.
1974–75* 12.4 30.3 14.0
1975–76* 14.9 29.2 13.5
1976–77* 15.8 28.9 12.3
1977–78* 16.3 28.5 10.9
1978–79* 18.0 27.3 10.6
1979–80* 21.6 28.0 10.7
1980–81* 25.1 26.9 10.9
1981–82* 26.5 24.9 10.4
1982–83‡ 28.0 24.3 10.0
*Estimated outturn.
‡Planned.

Table 2
Central Government Expenditure in the public expenditure planning total
Total£billion As a proportion of the planning total Per cent. As a ratio to the gross domestic product at market prices Per cent.
1974–75* 25.6 62.8 29.0
1975–76* 32.8 64.2 29.6
1976–77* 36.5 66.8 28.4
1977–78* 39.5 69.1 26.4
1978–79* 46.5 70.5 27.5
1979–80* 55.7 72.2 27.6
1980–81* 67.7 72.4 29.3
1981–82* 77.8 73.3 30.5
1982–83½ 84.1 73.1 30.0
*Estimated outturn.
½Planned.

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