§ Mr. Michael Brownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the balance of payments surplus or deficit as a percentage of the gross national product for each member of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in the latest year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. LawsonThe available information, taken mainly from "National Accounts of OECD countries" is as follows:
Balance of payment, current transactions for 1978 as a percentage of gross national product at market prices
per cent. Austria -2.5 Australia -2.8 Belgium -1.5 Canada -2.5 Denmark -2.7
40W
or rate nearest to 40 per cent. Single person Rate per cent. Married couple Rate per cent. Married couple with two children Rate per cent. £ £ £ United Kingdom 12,626 40 13,396 40 13,396 40 United States of America (Note 3) 10,295 39 13,400 37 14,245 37 15,630 43 16,470 43 (7,075) (40) (11,320) (40) (12,015) (40) France 15,010 39.6 29,640 39.6 37,465 36 Germany 7,705 40 15,050 40 15,315 40 Japan (Note) 25,510 39.9 26,115 39.9 27,330 39.9 (16,975) (39.6) (17,620) (39.6) 18,900 (39.6)
per cent. Finland +1.9 France +0.4 Germany +1.5 Greece -2.2 Iceland +1.4 Ireland -2.4 Italy +2.4 Japan +1.7 Luxembourg* +16.3 Netherlands -0.7 New Zealand -0.2 Norway -5.5 Portugal -3.8 Spain +1.0 Sweden -1.6 Switzerland +5.1 Turkey -2.6 United Kingdom +0.4 United States of America -1.1 * Figures relate to 1977. Notes: + represent a surplus and - a deficit on current account transactions. The above figures exclude profits on direct investment.