§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish figures for the population of England and Wales (a) in total, (b) in metropolitan areas including the Greater London Council and (c) in the area of Merseyside for each of the last 20 years, together with international comparisons of total population and the number in the geographical areas of those countries most closely corresponding to metropolitan areas of England and Wales, of France, West Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
§ Sir George YoungEstimates for the metropolitan areas as now defined do not go back before 1961. Annual figures for 1961–1970 are given in the Registrar-General's revised estimates of the popula-
£ million 1974–75 1975–76 1976–77 1977–78 Outturn Prices November 1978 prices Outturn Prices November 1978 prices Outturn Prices November 1978 prices Outturn Prices November 1978 prices England and Wales 608.0 1017.3 818.8 1111.0 955.2 1139.7 1060.4 1155.0 Metropolitan areas including Greater London 304.1 510.0 406.3 551.9 477.0 569.5 533.2 580.8 Merseyside 20.7 34.7 29.3 39.8 34.5 41.3 38.3 41.7 The figures are of net expenditure including debt charges and revenue contributions to capital outlay, after allowing for income from fees and charges.