§ Mr. Willie W. Hamiltonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in central Government spending in each year since 1979, expressed in cash and in real terms; and what are the comparable figures for local government, giving in both cases the percentage annual increases.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe figures requested are given below:
£ billion 1Central government 1Local authorities 2Cash Real Per cent. change year on year in real terms 2Cash Real Per cent. change year on year in real terms 1979–80 52.2 84.5 — 21.5 34.8 — 1980–81 63.4 86.5 2.3 25.0 34.1 -2.1 1981–82 73.0 90.6 4.8 26.6 33.0 -3.2 1982–83 81.4 94.2 4.0 29.1 33.7 2.2 1983–84 85.1 94.3 0.1 33.2 36.8 9.0 1984–85 92.1 97.8 3.7 34.9 37.1 1.0 1985–86 98.5 98.5 0.7 35.2 35.2 -5.1 1986–87 105.0 101.8 3.4 38.1 37.0 4.9 1 The figures exclude finance for nationalised industries and other public corporations. 2 Cash figures adjusted for general inflation as measured by the GDP deflator at market prices—base year 1985–86. Source: The figures are consistent with the 1987 public expenditure White Paper as updated by the 1987 Financial Statement and Budget Report.