Gross Domestic Product

HC Deb 13 March 1986 vol 93 cc585-7W

24. Mr. Baldry

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the United Kingdom's gross domestic product per

	1979–80 outurn	1980–81 outturn	1981–82 outturn	1982–83 outturn	1983–84 outturn	1984–85 outturn	Per cent. 1985–86 estimated outturn
Central Government Current	28½	30½	32	32½	32	33	32

head; and how this compares with each of the United Kingdom's Community partners in the latest year for which figures are available.

25. Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has on the gross domestic product per head of population for (a) the United Kingdom, (b) Puerto Rico, (c) Yugoslavia and (d) Taiwan for the latest year for which figures are available.

Mr. MacGregor

In 1984 United Kingdom gross domestic product per head stood at £5,600. The table gives a set of comparative figures for the countries requested.

Country	GNP per head 1984 (US dollars)
Denmark	10,690
Germany, Federal Republic	10,030
Luxembourg	9,240
France	8,910
Netherlands	8,530
Belgium	7,700
United Kingdom	7,500
Italy	6,110
Ireland	4,990
Spain	4,190
Puerto Rico	*3,890
Greece	3,380
Taiwan	*2,600
Portugal	1,910
Yugoslavia	*1,640
* Figures are for 1983: 1984 figures are not yet available.

Dr. Cunningham

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the proportion of gross domestic product taken by (a) central Government current expenditure, (b) central Government capital expenditure, (c) local government current expenditure, (d) local government capital expenditure and (e) all public expenditure in each year from 1979–80 to 1985–86.

Mr. MacGregor

General Government expenditure, and the components requested, as a percentage of GDP are as follows:

	1979–80 outurn	1980–81 outturn	1981–82 outturn	1982–83 outturn	1983–84 outturn	1984–85 outturn	Per cent. 1985–86 estimated outturn
Capital	3	3	2½	2½	1½	1	1½
Local authorities
Current	10	10½	10½	10½	10½	10½	10
Capital	2	2	1½	1½	1½	1½	1
General Government expenditure	43½	46	46½	46½	46	45½	44½

It should be noted that central Government current spending includes most defence expenditure, much of which is of a capital nature, and that both central government and local authority capital spending include sales of physical assets. This particularly affects local authority capital spending which is reduced as a result of council house sales. Table 1.14 of the 1986 public exenditure White Paper adjusts for these factors.