§ Mr. Willeyasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, the annual expenditure of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research in each of the years 1944–55 to 1953–54, inclusive, expressed in terms of 1946 values.
§ Mr. BevinsNo appropriate price index exists for converting the figures of annual expenditure by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research to 1946 values. If, however, the price index for all consumer goods and services is used, the figures are estimated as follows:
— Gross Expenditure(1) Actual Converted to 1946 values Estimate(2) £'000s £'000s 1944–45 … 1,427 1,491 1945–46 … 1,648 1,685 1946–47 … 2,242 2,208 1947–48 … 3,062 2,825 1948–49 … 3,697 3,198 1949–50 … 4,347 3,662 1950–51 … 5,008 4,019 1951–52 … 5,452 4,035 1952–53 … 5,773 4,085 1953–54 … 5,865 4,076 (1) Excluding capital expenditure for buildings which is borne on the Ministry of Works Vote.
(2) Based on price index for all consumer goods and services calculated by the Central Statistical Office annually for calendar years. The figure for 1953–54 is provisional.