§ Mr. D. E. Thomasasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual percentage growth in national income, expressed in terms of £ sterling at March 1974 exchange rates, of each of the member States of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development during the periods 1948–58 and 1958–73 and at the latest date for which figures are available, respectively.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonFigures are not available on an internationally comparable basis for periods before 1950 nor, at present for later than 1972. The following table shows the average annual percentage rate of growth in gross domestic product at constant purchasers' values as defined by the OECD, over the periods 1950 to 1958 and 1958 to 1972. Gross domestic product is the closest approximation to national income available over the whole period and for all countries.70W Figures for New Zealand and Yugoslavia are not available.
GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT AT CONSTANT PURCHASERS' VALUES: AVERAGE ANNUAL PERCENTAGE GROWTH Country 1950–58 1958–72 Canada 4.2 5.0 United States 3.0 4.2 Japan 7.1* 10.7 Australia .. 5.0† Austria 5.7 5.0 Belgium 2.6‡ 4.7 Denmark 2.6 5.1 Finland 4.0 5.6 France 4.4 5.8 Germany 7.8 5.5 Greece 6.3 7.3 Iceland 5.4 4.6 Ireland 1.0 4.2 Italy 5.3§ 5.2 Luxembourg .. 3.0 Netherlands 4.1 5.3 Norway 3.2§ 4.8 Portugal .. 6.3 Spain .. 6.2 Sweden 3.1 4.0 Switzerland 3.9 4.7 Turkey 6.3 5.5 United Kingdom 2.4 2.9 * 1952–58. † 1960–71. ‡ 1953–58. § 1951–58. Sources: National Accounts of OECD Countries 1950–68; National Accounts of OECD Countries, 1961–72. The figures for the United Kingdom are as defined by the OECD, but consistent with those published in National Income and Expenditure, 1963–73.