§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent action he has taken or intends taking to secure a substantial reduction in the minimum lending rate to invigorate investment in industry to overcome the growing unemployment problem; and whether he will make a statement.
£ million 1978–79 1979–80 (provisional) 1980–81 (estimated) Value-added tax 4.832 8,179 12,450 Wages and salaries* 20,843 24,808 30,500 * General government expenditure on wages and salaries; includes employers' contributions to national insurance and to occupational pension schemes, the national insurance surcharge and pensions paid to retired civil servants and servicemen. Comparable figures for public corporations which make up the rest of the public sector are not centrally available.