§ Mr. Harveyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of gross domestic product was represented by the public sector in its wider definition in each of the past 10 years.
§ Mr. Peter ReesUsing the wider of the two definitions in chart 1.8 of the most recent public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9143), the latest figures are as follows:
Per cent. 1974–75 45½ 1975–76 46 1976–77 44 1977–78 40 1978–79 40½ 1979–80 40 1980–81 42½ 1981–82 44 1982–83 43½ 1983–84 *43 * Provisional.
§ Mr. Alan Howarthasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give figures for the proportion of gross domestic product spent in all by the state in the fields of health and personal social services, social security, education and housing in 1953–54 and 1983–84.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 30 July 1984]: The table gives figures for 1973–74 and 1983–84, 389W following definitions of programme expenditure used in the most recent public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9143). Analyses of expenditure by programme are not readily available before 1973–74. The table also shows, for 1983–84 only, figures derived from a functional analysis of expenditure in the United Kingdom, including expenditure which lies within the responsibilities of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Figures on this basis are not readily available for 1973–74.
Items of public expenditure as a percentage of GDP *Programme Basis †Functional Basis 1973–74 1983–84 1983–84 Health and personal social services 3.9 4.8 6.0 Social security 7.8 11.6 12.0 Education and Science 5.0 4.4 5.4 Arts and libraries 0.2 0.2 Housing 2.4 0.9 1.3 * Derived from Table 1.3 Cmnd. 9143. † Derived from Table 4.1 Cmnd. 9143, which also provides cash figures from 1978–79.