HC Deb 26 July 1985 vol 83 c860W
Mr. Shersby

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the fastest growing areas of Government expenditure by broad policy area since Community accession for the total time period and for any convenient sub-periods within the total, comparing these with the growth in agricultural spending by Her Majesty's Government both gross and net of Community refunds, as appropriate, expressed in pound million sterling and compound percentage rates of change.

Mr. Peter Rees

Figures for the main components of the public expenditure planning total, which show an increase over the period 1973–74 to 1984–85, are as follows:

maintenance payments; how many taxpayers get this relief; and what is the average annual amount on which relief is given.

Mr. Moore

It is estimated that, in 1985–86, £100 million for alimony and £500 million for small maintenance payments will be eligible for tax relief involving 50,000 and 475,000 taxpayers respectively with respective average annual amounts of £2,000 and £1,050.