§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the maximum rate of increase in expenditure other than that necessarily resulting from the treaty fixed by the European Economic Community under article 203 for each year since 1972.
§ Mr. Ian Stewart[pursuant to his reply, 20 March 1985. c.522]: The maximum rate increases in non-obligatory expenditure for the years 1972–1974 are not readily available. Figures for the years 1975–1983 are set out in the table:
705W
Commitment Appropriations Payment Appropriations per cent. per cent. 1975 — 40.77 1976 — 44.29 1977 — 28.67 1978 23.35 56.04
Commitment Appropriations Payment Appropriations per cent. per cent. 1979 35.02 3.50 1980 22.77 12.70 1981 13.86 16.23 1982 29.13 42.43 1983 33.52 38.67 Before 1978 the maximum rate was set only on payment appropriations.