HC Deb 19 January 1979 vol 960 cc962-3W
Mr. John Moore

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish in theOfficial Reporta table showing for each year since 1945 and giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available, debt interest as defined in table 12 of Command Paper No. 7049 as a percentage of (a) gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) gross domestic product at market prices and (c) gross national product;

(2) if he will publish in theOfficial Reporta table showing for each year since 1945 and giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available, debt interest, as defined in table 12 of Command Paper No. 7049, per head of population.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

The figures for debt interest as defined in Cmnd. 7049 at current prices are shown in the table below. figures prior to 1959 are not available.

DEBT INTEREST AS DEFINED IN CMND.7049*
£ million at current prices
1959 490
1960 555
1961 577
1962 480
1963 584
1964 548
1965 556
1966 550
1967 570
1968 657
1969 589
1970 536
1971 437
1972 469
1973 573
1974 797
1975 900
1976 1,466
1977 2,057
*Based on national income accounts and including, from 1972, interest support costs for export and shipbuilding credits. The ratios required can be obtained from figures in the above table together with published information on gross domestic product, gross national product and population. I have given the sources of this information together with population estimates in answer to an earlier Question today from the hon. Member.