HC Deb 11 December 1991 vol 200 c447W
Mrs. Heal

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of gross national product is spent on education; and what are the comparable figures for other European countries.

Mr. Eggar

International comparisons of educational expenditure are complex, because the ways in which this expenditure is allocated to the different sectors varies both between countries and within countries over time.

The readily available information is as follows:

Total Public Expenditure1 on education as a Percentage of Gross National product, Calendar year 1988.
Per cent.
Belgium2 4.9
Denmark 7.8
France3 5.3
Germany 4.2
Greece 42.7
Ireland 47.0
Italy 44.8
Luxembourg 4.6
Netherlands 6.8
Portugal 4.8
Spain 4.3
United Kingdom 4.6

Sources:

UNESCO Statistical Yearbook, 1991

Education Statistics for the United Kingdom 1990

1 Includes subsidies to the private sector.

2 Ministry of Education expenditure only.

3 Metropolitan France

4 1987 data

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