§ Mr. JoplingTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the outstanding aggregate national debt in 1979 and its lowest level between then and the present day, together with the current level and that envisaged at the end of the 1997–98 financial year under the estimates of table 1 of his leaflet, "The Budget in Brief".
§ Mr. LamontChart 2.5 in the 1993–94 "Financial Statement and Budget Report" shows data and projections up to end 1997–98 for the ratio of net public sector debit to GDP. This ratio fell from 49½ per cent. at end 1978–79 to 27¼ per cent. at end 1990–91, but has since risen to an estimated 33½ per cent. at end 1992–93. The PSBR projections in table 1 of "The Budget in Brief' imply a ratio of 49i per cent. at end 1997–98.