§ Mr. Churchillasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what have been the changes in public expenditure in each year since 1978–79 to date; and what is his forecast for those years for which figures are available expressed both in constant prices and as a percentage of gross domestic product.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 28 January 1985, c. 67]: The information requested is as follows:
Percentage increase in public expenditure Public expenditure as a percentage of GDP Planning total in real terms Cash terms Real terms 1978–79 +15.8 +4.7 — — 1979–80 +17.0 +0.1 39.5 111.8 1980–81 +20.4 +1.5 42 113.5 1981–82 +12.9 +2.7 43.5 116.6 1982–83 +8.3 +1.6 43 118.4 1983–84 +6.1 +1.6 42.5 120.3 1984–85 +6.5 +1.7 42.5 122.3 1985–86 +3.1 -1.3 41 120.7 1986–87 +3.5 -0.5 40 120.1 1987–88 +3.5 +0.2 39.5 120.4