§ Mr. Ripponasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current estimated annual cost of servicing the national debt; and how this compares with that for the years 1973–74 and 1978–79.
§ Mr. Lawson[pursuant to his reply, 20 July 1983, c. 14]: The estimated cost of servicing the national debt for 1983–84, published in the Financial Statement and Budget report, is £11,350 million. Details of the actual cost of servicing the national debt are published annually in the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund accounts. For 1973–74 this was £2,340 million, and for 1978–79, £6,458 million.