HC Deb 13 November 1979 vol 973 cc539-40W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual increase since 1970 for each of the principal industrial countries, plus Canada and Sweden in the savings ratio; and how this compares with the increase in manufacturing output, the money supply and wholesale and retail prices.

ANALYSIS OF DEBT INTEREST FIGURES IN CMND. 7746
£ million, 1979 survey prices
1978–79 1979–80 1980–81
outturn projection projection
Total public sector debt interest payments 9,900 9,900 9,800
less:
Public corporations* debt interest payments to the private sector and overseas 733 600 500
General government interest receipts from public corporations*, the private sector and overseas 2,513 2,600 2,300
Interest provision from trading activities of certain public corporations† and general government 3,433 3,400 3,400
Interest support costs 300 200 400
equals:
Debt interest on a White Paper basis 2,921 3,100 3,200
* Other than certain public corporations, listed on page 249 of Cmnd. 7439.
† Interest payments to general government and private sector and overseas.

Mr. Denzil Davies

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the increase of £117 million, at 1979 survey prices, on expenditure on industry, energy, trade and employment is applicable separately to each of these items.

Mr. Biffen

The information is as follows:

£ million at 1979 survey prices
Industry -63
Energy +10
Trade +149
Employment +21

As stated in Cmnd. 7746, the increase in trade follows the once-for-all reduction achieved in 1979–80 by the Trustee Savings Bank taking over some £200 million of outstanding refinance.

Mr. Lawson

I regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.

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