HC Deb 10 April 1972 vol 834 cc132-3W
Mr. Skeet

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the size of the National Debt upon which an interest charge of £1,596 million was provided in 1971–72; and what was the size of the National Debt in 1960, 1965, 1970, together with the interest charges made in each of these years.

Mr. Higgins

The provisional out-turn figure of £1,596 million for interest payable on the National Debt in 1971–72 is based on a provisional out-turn of the size of the National Debt at 31st March, 1972, of £34,131 million. The size of the National Debt outstanding and interest paid in earlier years is as follows:

National Debt Interest paid
Date Amount £ million Year Amount£ million
31st March, 1960 27,814 1959–60 838
31st March, 1965 30,441 1964–65 1,033
31st March, 1970 33,079 1969–70 1,412