§ Mr. Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the final cost to the Treasury in interest paid on money borrowed to make good the revenue delayed during the Civil Service dispute of 1981; for how long an interest cost was incurred; and what estimate he has made of revenue permanently lost.
§ Mr. LawsonIt is estimated that interest on extra borrowing resulting from the Civil Service dispute amounted to about £700 million up to the end of March 1983. Reasonable estimates of interest costs beyond March 1983 cannot be made because it is not possible to distinguish revenue "recovery" directly associated with the dispute, on which the interest cost depends, from delays due to other factors.
Revenue permanently lost as a result of the dispute cannot be separately identified within the totals of revenue written off as irrecoverable for other reasons.