HC Deb 19 January 1979 vol 960 cc954-62W
Mr. John Moore

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish in theOfficial Reporta table showing public expenditure, defined as in 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, from the earliest available financial year to 1978–79, giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available;

(2) if he will publish in theOfficial Reporta table showing public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721, as a percentage of (a) gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) gross domestic product at market prices, and (c) gross national product from the earliest available financial year to 1978–79, giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available;

(3) if he will publish in theOfficial Reporta table showing public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 6721, as a percentage of (a) gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) gross domestic product at market prices, and (c) gross domestic product from the earliest available financial year to 1978–79, giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available;

(4) 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 (a) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 7049, (b) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 7049 in terms of 1977 prices, (c) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 7049, in terms of 1975 prices, (d) public expenditure defined as in Command Paper No. 7049 per head of population, (e) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 7049, in terms of 1977 prices per head of population and (f) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 7049 in terms of 1975 prices per head of population;

(5) 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 (a) public expenditure as defined before Command Paper No. 6721, (b) public expenditure as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1977 prices, (c) public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1975 prices, (d) public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 per head of population, (e) public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1977 prices per head of population and (f) public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721, in terms of 1975 prices per head of population;

(6) 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 (a) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 6721, (b) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1977 prices, (c) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1975 prices, (d) public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1977 prices, (e) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1975 prices per head of population and (f) public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 6721, in terms of 1977 prices per head of population;

(7) 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 (a) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, defined as in Command Paper No. 6721, (b) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure defined as in Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1975 prices, (c) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure defined as in Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1977 prices, (d) increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, defined in Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1975 prices per head of population and (e) increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure defined as in Command Paper No. 6721 per head of population in terms of 1977 prices;

(8) 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 (a) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721, (b) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1975 prices, (c) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1977 prices, (d) increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 per head of population, (e) increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 per head of population in terms of 1975 prices and (f) increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure as defined before Command Paper No. 6721 in terms of 1977 prices per head of population;

(9) 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 (a) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 7049, (b) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 7049 in terms of 1975 prices, (c) percentage increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 7049 in terms of 1977 prices, (d) increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 7049 per head of population, (e) increase or decrease over previous year in public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 7049 per head of population in terms of 1977 prices;

Public expenditure*£ million at outturn prices
As defined in Cmnd. 6393 As defined in Cmnd. 6721 As defined in Cmnd. 7049 Population mid-year estimates millions
1946 4,582 na na 49 .2
1947 4,327 na na 49.5
1948 4,577 na na 50.0
1949 4,816 na na 50.3
1950 4,880 na na 50.6
1951 5,852 na na 50.6
1952 6,455 na na 50.7
1953 6,706 na na 50.9
1954 6,641 na na 51.1
1955 7,060 na na 51.2
1956 7,500 Na Na 51.4
1957 7,904 na na 51.7
1958 8,255 na na 51.9
1959 8,743 8,033 8,011 52.2
1960 9,360 8,468 8,447 52.6
1961 10,274 9,205 9,196 53.0
1972 10,960 9,761 9,740 53.4
1963 11,602 10,350 10,318 53.7
1964 12,705 11,305 11,293 54.0
1965 14,074 12,546 12,523 54.4
1966 15,240 13,567 13,532 54.7
1967 17,435 15,687 15,655 54.9
1968 19,015 17,189 17,140 55.2
1969 19,672 17,628 17,584 55.4

(10) whether he will list the various changes made to the definition of public expenditure in Command Paper No 6721 and estimate for each change the effect on (a) public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product at market prices and (c) public expenditure as a percentage of gross national product;

(11) whether he will list the various changes made to the definition of public expenditure in Command Paper No. 7049 and estimate for each change the effect on (a) public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) public expenditure as a percentage of gross domestic product at market prices and (c) public expenditure as a percentage of gross national product.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

The table shows public expenditure on each of the three definitions requested, at outturn prices. An allowance for the imputed charge for the consumption of non-trading capital, which is not included in any White Paper definition of public expenditure, has also been added in order to make the estimates comparable with figures for gross domestic product. Comprehensive estimates at constant prices are not available. Mid-year estimates of the total United Kingdom population are also shown in the table.

Public expenditure*£ million at outturn prices
As defined estimates in Cmnd. 6393 As defined in Cmnd. 6721 As defined in Cmnd. 7049 Population mid-year millions
1970 21,731 19,234 19,203 55 .5
1971 24,218 21,579 21,524 55 .7
1972 27,090 24,428 24,363 55 .9
1973 32,272 28,463 28,392 56 .0
1974 42,213 36,633 36,589 56 .0
1975 54,846 48,355 48,241 56 .0
1976 63,201 54,871 54,725 56 .0
1977 66,959 57,883 57,710 55 .9
* Based on national accounts records and including non-trading capital consumption. na Not available.

The ratios and percentage changes requested may be obtained by using figures in the above table together with published information. Figures for gross domestic product at factor cost on an expenditure basis and gross national product on an income basis can be obtained from "Economic Trends Annual Supplement 1979 edition "pages 9 and 34 respectively. Estimates of gross domestic product at market prices may be obtained from the former table by adding taxes on expenditure and subtracting subsidies from the figures of gross domestic product at factor cost.

The changes made in the definition of public expenditure are listed in both Cmnd. 6721 and Cmnd. 7049. The total effect at outturn prices of these changes can be derived from the differences between the first three columns of the table. Individual effects are not available.

Mr. John Moore

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish a table showing general Government expenditure on the definition used before Cmnd. Paper No. 6721 for each year since 1945 and giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available as a percentage of (a) gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) gross domestic product at market prices and (c) gross national product;

(2) whether he will publish a table showing general Government expenditure on the definition used when Cmnd. Paper No. 6721 was published, for each year since 1945 and giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available as a percentage of (a) gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) gross domestic product at market prices and (c) gross national product;

(3) whether he will publish a table showing general Government expenditure on the definition used when Cmnd. Paper No. 7049 was published for each year since 1945 and giving estimated figures when final figures are not yet available as a percentage of (a) gross domestic product at factor cost, (b) gross domestic product at market prices and (c) gross national product;

(4) 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, total central Government expenditure on goods and services as per table 12 of Cmnd. 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;

(5) 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, total local authority expenditure on goods and services as per table 12 of Cmnd. 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;

(6) 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, total central Government expenditure on goods and services as per table 12 of Cmnd. Paper No. 7049 per head of population;

(7) 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, total local authority expenditure on goods and services as per table 12 of Command Paper No. 7049 per head of population.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

"General Government expenditure" is a national income accounting term denoting the consolidated expenditure of the central Government and local authority sectors. This definition has not been directly affected by the changes in the definition of public expenditure referred to. Figures for total general Government expenditure in national income accounts terms are published in "Economic Trends Annual Supplement 1979 edition "—page 135. Figures on a comparable basis for central Government and local authorities expenditure on goods and services are shown in the table below.

Expenditure on Goods and Services*
£ million
Central Government Local authorities
1946 1,748 638
1947 1,239 846
1948 1,338 940
1949 1,526 971
1950 1,562 1,020
1951 2,170 1,144
1952 2,499 1,290
1953 2,577 1,395
1954 2,423 1,415
1955 2,444 1,473
1956 2,696 1,587
1957 2,758 1,687
1958 2,783 1,732
1959 2,943 1,852
1960 3,091 1,958
1961 3,272 2,195
1962 3,443 2,462
1963 3,559 2,683
1964 3,821 3,042
1965 4,254 3,332
1966 4,460 3,746
1967 4,919 4,266
1968 5,230 4,616
1969 5,381 4,880
1970 6,031 5,407
1971 6,802 6,028
1972 7,580 6,823
1973 8,593 8,442
1974 10,942 10,074
1975 14,518 13,476
1976 17,166 14,937
1977 18,685 15,377
Source: National accounts records

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.

Mr. John Moore

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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,(a)the percentage of expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 7049, devoted to wages and salaries, (b) the percentage of public expenditure, as defined before Command Paper No. 6721, devoted to wages and salaries and (c) the percentage of public expenditure, as defined in Command Paper No. 6721, devoted to wages and salaries.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

The figures of the wages and salaries component of public expenditure are shown in the table below. They exclude the wages and salaries element of the capital expenditure of those public expenditure as these figures are not available. The figures include employers' contribution to national insurance and to occupational pension schemes and, in the case of pension schemes such as those for the Armed Forces and civil servants, actual pensions paid.

public expenditure on wages and salaries*
£million
1953 1,532
1954 1,631
1955 1,722
1956 1,893
1957 2,014
1958 2,117
1959 2,244
1960 2,407
1961 2,575
1962 2,762
1963 2,977
1964 3,215
1965 3,531
1966 3,844
1967 4,161
1968 4,460
1969 4,769
1970 5,471
1971 6,443
1972 7,528
1973 8,501
1974 10,626
1975 14,931
1976 17,068
1977 18,293
*Based on national account records. Figures prior to 1953 are not available.

The ratios required can be obtained from the above figures and figures for public expenditure on each of the three definitions given in answer to an earlier Question today from the hon. Member.

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