HL Deb 05 June 1991 vol 529 cc44-6WA
Lord Bruce of Donington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What percentage of gross national product was government expenditure, excluding transfer payments in each of the fiscal years, 1979–80 to 1990–91 inclusive.

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Henley):

It is more meaningful to present government expenditure as percentage of gross domestic product. The figure for 1990–91 is not yet available. The information required on this basis is as follows:

Per cent.
1979–80 22.7
1980– 81 24.3
1981–82 23.8
1982–83 24.0
1983–84 24.0
Per cent.
1984–85 24.0
1985–86 23.1
1986–87 22.7
1987–88 22.2
1988–89 21.1
1989–90 21.8

Money GDP figures, used as denominator, are adjusted for the distortion arising from the abolition of domestic rates.