§ 33. Mr. Patrick Thompsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the amount by which Government borrowing has been reduced since April 1979.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe amount of net annual public sector borrowing has fallen from 5.4 per cent. of GDP in 1978–79 to about 3¼ per cent. in each of the past four years, and is estimated to fall to 2 per cent. in 1985–86.
Percentage of average manual earnings* paid in income tax at: Reduced rate Single Basic rate Total Reduced rate Married Basic rate Total 1978–79 4.2 20.2 24.4 4.2 16.1 20.3 1979–80 3.5 19.1 22.6 3.5 15.4 18.9 1983–84 — 23.1 23.1 — 19.2 19.2 1984–85 — 22.8 22.8 — 18.6 18.6 * Financial year averages for male, full-time manual workers aged over 21.