HC Deb 30 January 1978 vol 943 cc29-30W
Mr. Baker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the missing figures for 1981 and 1981–82 for table 5.5 of Command Paper No. 7049–2.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Table 5.5 of Cmnd. 7049–2 covers the period from 1972–73 to 1979–80. I do not propose to publish figures for later years.

Mr. Baker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list all the different definitions of total public expenditure that have been used since 1972.

Mr. Joel Barnett

I would refer the hon. Member to the publication "Public Expenditure White Paper: Handbook on Methodology "—H.M.S.O., 1972—and the detailed accounts of classification changes in subsequent public expenditure White Papers.

Mr. Baker

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will convert the estimates for shortfall in Table 8 of Command Paper No. 7049–1 into 1977 survey prices; and whether he will give estimates for subsequent years.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Expressed at 1977 survey prices, the figures would not be significantly different from those shown in table 8. The estimates of shortfall in future years in Cmnd. 7049 are presented in the context of projections for the general Government account up to 1979–80. I do not now propose to give estimates for subsequent years.