HC Deb 12 November 1991 vol 198 cc506-7W
Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the national income, 3 per cent. of that figure and the budget deficit of each member state in the EC indicating the differences in accounting treatment where relevant.

Mr. Maples

Following is the information, for the latest year1 available:

GDP 3 per cent. of GDP 2GGFD
UK (£ billion) 550.6 16.5 3.6
Belgium (BF billion) 6,027.9 180.8 402.1
Denmark (Kr billion) 776.0 23.3 3.7
France (FF billion) 6,113.1 183.4 86.3
Germany (DM billion) 2,235.6 67.1 -5.5
Greece (Dr billion) 8,798.4 294.0 n.a.
Ireland (IrP billion) 20.0 0.6 1.8
Italy (Lit trillion) 1,188.0 35.6 121.1
Luxembourg (BF billion) 223.3 6.7 -6.9
Netherlands (Fl billion) 474.4 14.2 24.5
Portugal (Esc billion) 4,420.4 132.6 281.5
Spain (Pta trillion) 40.2 1.2 1.3

Source: OECD National Accounts volume II, 1977–89, except for UK figures from Financial Statistics.

1 Latest year is 1989 except for UK (1990); Spain (1988); Ireland (1987); Luxembourg and Portugal (1986).

2 General government financial deficit, positive number indicates government borrowing.

The Dutch presidency text defines the budget deficit as "the net balance to be financed on a cash basis". However, data for this concept are available. Data for general Government financial deficits are not available for most countries, and are therefore generally used to make international comparisons of budget deficits. Most countries, however, focus on other aggregates in their national budgets. The main differences between the net balance to be financed on a cash basis and the GGFD are that the former is measured on a cash basis, the latter on an accruals basis; and the GGFD excludes privatisation proceeds.

Figures for the United Kingdom are based on the national accounts. Figures for other countries are standardised to conform to the United Nations system of national accounts. No figures are available for the general Government financial deficit of Greece. More recent data and forecasts of Government deficits of member states are published by the European Commission in "European Economy", Supplement A, May 1991.

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