§ Lord Lawson of Blabyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they will publish a table showing, for each year from 1978–79 to 1993–94 (latest available estimate), the annual percentage growth of public spending in real terms, defining public spending as general government expenditure excluding the effect of privatisation proceeds; and whether they will give the average annual percentage growth in public spending as defined above (a) over the eleven-year period from 1978–79 to 1989–90; (b) over the six-year period from 1983–84 to 1989–90; and (c) over the four-year period from 1989–90 to 1993–94 (latest available estimate).
The Minister of State, Department of Transport (The Earl of Caithness)The information requested is given in the table below:
Percentage change (real terms) 1978–79 4.7 1979–80 3.2 1980–81 1.8 1981–82 1.5 1982–83 2.6 1983–84 1.6 1984–85 2.8 1985–86 −0.1 1986–87 2.1 1987–88 0.0 1988–89 −1.8 1989–90 2.6 1990–91 0.8 1991–92 2.8 1992–93 5.3 1993–94 4.4
Average annual real growth rates, percent. 1978–79 to 1989–90 1.5 1983–84 to 1989–90 0.9 1989–90 to 1993–94 3.3