HC Deb 05 April 1976 vol 909 c74W
Mr. Nicholas Winterton

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the total amount spent by his Department for each of the last 30 years expressed (i) in money terms and (ii) as a percentage of GNP.

Mr. Mulley

The figures relating to total public expenditure on education in the United Kingdom for the last 20 years are set out below. Comparable information for earlier years is not readily available.

Financial years Expenditure* £ million As a percentage of GNP
1954–55 560 3.5
1955–56 613 3.6
1956–57 724 3.9
1957–58 809 4.2
1958–59 865 4.2
1959–60 943 4.3
1960–61 1,018 4.4
1961–62 1,159 4.7
1962–63 1,305 5.1
1963–64 1,439 5.2
1964–65 1,579 5.4
1965–66 1,718 5.3
1966–67 1,927 5.7
1967–68 2,166 6.0
1968–69 2,301 6.0
1969–70 2,481 6.1
1970–71 2,824 6.3
1971–72 3,245 6.4
1972–73 3,827 6.6
1973–74 4,295 6.6
1974–75 5,604 7.1
* Excluding expenditure on libraries, arts and Research Councils.