§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to estimate the interest which will fall to be paid on the national debt in 1980–81; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous ten financial years.
§ Mr. Brittan[pursuant to his reply, 19 February 1981]: The Financial Statement and Budget Report 1980–81(HC 500) included a forecast of interest to be paid on the national debt of £9,885 million in 1980–81. Latest available information indicates the outturn for 1980–81 should be close to that figure. Comparable figures in each of the previous ten financial years are as follows:
Interest paid on the national debt £ million 1970–71 1,419 1971–72 1,596 1972–73 1,828 1973–74 2,284 1974–75 2,790 1975–76 3,482 1976–77 4,449 1977–78 5,101 1978–79 6,369 1979–80 8,290