§ Mr. Groundasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the national debt, including foreign currency debt but excluding official holdings, outstanding at the end of March, as a percentage of gross domestic product, average measure, at current market prices centred on 31 March; and what is his estimate of the national debt so expressed for the end of March 1988.
§ Mr. LilleyNo estimate is as yet available of the national debt, including foreign currency debt but excluding official holdings, outstanding at the end of March 1987. Including official holdings and foreign currency debt, the national debt outstanding at the end of march 1987 was £185.8 billion, 47.3 per cent. of the average measure of gross domestic product in the first quarter of 1987 (at an annual rate at current market prices). No forecast is available for 1988.