§ 28. Mr. Chapmanasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the percentage increase in public expenditure between 1978–79 and 1982–83; and how this compares with the percentage increase in the retail price index between February 1979 and February 1983.
§ Mr. BrittanThe estimated outturn for the planning total for 1982–83, as published in the Financial Statement and Budget Report is £112.5 billion. This represents an increase of 71.1 per cent. on the corresponding figure for 1978–79. This compares with a percentage increase of 56.6 per cent. in the retail prices index between February 1979 and February 1983.