§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual financial debt of the central Government for each year from 1969 to the first quarter of 1978 at 1970 prices; and what is the current financial debt.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettThe figure of national debt is available only on 31st March in each year. The national debt in March of each year from 1969 to 1978 at 1970 prices is as follows:
£ million 1969 … … … 35,735 1970 … … … 30,079 1971 … … … 30,765 1972 … … … 30,606 1973 … … … 29,135 1974 … … … 27,923 1975 … … … 26,654 1976 … … … 26,830 1977 … … … 27,152 1978 … … … 29,443 The provisional figure of national debt at 31st March 1978 is £79,083 million.