Public Expenditure

HC Deb 08 November 1976 vol 919 cc67-8W

Mr. Wigley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table in the Official Report corresponding to Table A published in the Official Report of 22nd July 1976 (columns 2033–6), but showing the projected identifiable public expenditure per capita in England, Wales and the United Kingdom, respectively, indicating: Cmnd. 6393 revalued, changes made before the Chancellor's statement of 22nd July, changes announced on that date and the new projected levels of expenditure.

Mr. Joel Barnett

I regret that projected expenditure figures are not available in this form.

Mr. Hordern

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of general Government expenditure as a proportion of gross domestic product in 1975.

Mr. Joel Barnett

General Government expenditure in 1975, including only that part of interest payments financed by taxation or borrowing, was 52 per cent. of gross domestic product at factor cost. If interest payments financed by interest receipts and provision from rent and trading income are also included, the ratio was 55 per cent.

Mr. Maurice Macmillan

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report the ratio of total public expenditure to gross domestic product for each year since 1959–60 on the basis of the Treasury's recommendations to the Select Committee on Public Expenditure.

Mr. Joel Barnett

I shall let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Forman

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a table showing the most recent figures for total public expenditure as a proportion of GDP in each OECD country.

Mr. Joel Barnett,

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 4th November 1976; Vol. 918, c. 688], gave the following information:

Most other countries do not compile expenditure figures for the public sector as a whole. I refer the hon. Member to the reply in respect of General Government expenditure which 1 gave to the hon. Member for Horsham and Crawley (Mr. Hordern) on 25th October 1976—[Vol. 918, cc. 54–56.]