§ Mr. JoplingTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in cash terms the level of the national debt at the end of each financial year since 1979, together with his forecasts for its level at the end of each year until 1997–98 using the public sector borrowing requirement forecasts published with his Budget.
§ Mr. LamontThe table shows data for net public sector debt at end-March for each year from 1979 to 1992, plus projections for 1993 and 1994 consistent with the Budget forecast.
Net public sector debt (end-March figures) £ billion Percentage GDP 1979 92.0 49.50 1980 100.6 45.50 1981 115.2 47.00 1982 126.1 47.00 1983 134.0 45.75 1984 146.5 46.50 1985 160.3 46.75 1986 166.4 44.75 1987 172.3 42.50 1988 177.1 38.00 1989 157.2 31.50 1990 151.0 28.00 1991 153.9 27.25 1992 167.9 28.25 1993 204.0 33.50 1994 255.0 39–25 Projections for 1994–95 to 1997–98 for net public sector debt as a percent of GDP are shown in chart 2.5 of the 1993–94 Financial Statement and Budget Report. The projections are illustrative and depend on the assumptions made about the growth of the economy.