HC Deb 16 July 1958 vol 591 c109W
Mr. Ellis Smith

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what percentage of the national income was spent by the central Government during 1929, 1935, 1946, 1950, 1956, and on the latest date; and if he will state for the same years the per-

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE EXPRESSED AS A PERCENTAGE OF NATIONAL INCOME
— 1938(2) 1946 1950 1956 1957(3)
Total(1) … … … … … 23.7 50.9 36.0 34.1 32.6
Education and child care … … … … 2.6 2.7 …
Other social services(4) … … … … … 11.0 10.6 …
Military defence … … … … … … 8.1 10.3 …
Agriculture and food … … … … … 3.6 1.8 …
Other services (including debt interest) … … … 10.7 8.7 …
(1) Total expenditure on current and capital account combined, including expenditure by the National Insurance Funds and grants to local authorities, but excluding lending and other transactions in financial assets.
(2) Details for 1938 are not available.
(3) Details for 1957 are not yet available.
(4) Health services, housing, national insurance benefits, pensions, national assistance, etc.