HL Deb 16 January 1989 vol 503 cc96-7WA
Earl Russell

asked Her Majesty's Government:

The percentage of GNP devoted to public expenditure and the equivalent figures for our main industrial competitors.

Lord Young of Graffham

General government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds) as a percentage of gross domestic product in the United Kingdom was:

%
1984–85 46¼
1985–86 44½
1986–87 43¾
1987–88 41½

The definition of public expenditure varies between countries, and hence inter-country comparisons are best made using the standardised definitions of an international organisation. The following figures, which use OECD definitions, show total government outlays as a percentage of GDP for 1986:

%
United Kingdom 46.2
United States 36.9
Japan 33.1
West Germany 46.6
France 51.8
Italy 50.5
Canada 46.2

Source: OECD Economic Outlook, 44, December 1988.