HC Deb 25 November 1991 vol 199 cc372-3W
Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the national income, 60 per cent. of that figure and the Government debt of each member state in the EC, indicating the differences in accounting treatment where relevant.

Mr. Maples

For data on the national income of each member state in the EC, I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to him on 12 November 1991, at columns506–7.

Data for the level of Government debt are not yet available on a comparable basis for all EC member states. Following are estimates of the ratio of general Government gross debt, valued in nominal terms, to GDP as at 31 December 1989.

General Government gross debt, 1989 (per cent. of GDP)
Per cent.
United Kingdom1 37.4
Belgium 130.7
Denmark2 58.0
France 46.6
Western Germany 43.4
Greece2 76.1
Ireland3 125.1
Italy 98.8
Luxembourg 8.5
Netherlands 79.7
Portugal2 71.2
Spain 43.2

1 At 31 March 1990.

2 Central government only.

3 Per cent. of GNP.

Source: OECD Economic Outlook No. 49, July 1991; except for Luxembourg and Portugal: from EC Annual Economic Report (revised), May 1991.

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