§ Mr. Proctorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take further measures to reduce the scale of public expenditure.
§ Mr. BrittanThe autumn statement, published on 8 November, showed that the ratio of public expenditure to gross domestic product is planned to fall from 45 per cent. in 1982–83 to 44 per cent. in 1983–84. This reverses the upward trend which has persisted since 1977–78. We aim to secure further reductions in the ratio in later years.