§ 58. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase, in real terms, in the Civil and Defence Estimates, respectively, between 1952–53 and 1959–60; and what the increase will be in the next financial year.
Mr. AmoryThe Defence Estimates for 1959–60 were about 22 per cent. lower in real terms than the corresponding estimates for 1952–53. The estimates for 1960–61 show an increase of 4 per cent. over 1959–60.
A substantial proportion of expenditure under Civil Estimates consists of transfer payments which cannot properly be expressed in real terms. Government expenditure in real terms on goods and services (as defined in the National Income Blue Books, and excluding defence) was 15 per cent. higher in 1959–60 than in 1952–53. Expenditure in 1960–61 is expected to increase by about 4½ per cent. compared with 1959–60.