§ Mr. JoplingTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give in cash terms the level of the net public sector debt for each year since 1979 together with his forecasts using the prediction contained in the Red Book for each year until 1999 using either end of financial year dates or other convenient dates.
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§ Mr. NelsonThe table shows data for net public sector at end-March for each year from 1979 to 1993, plus projections for 1994 and 1995 consistent with the Budget forecast.
Net public sector debt (end-March figures) £ billion Per cent. 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 171.1 38.00 1989 157.2 31.50 1990 151.0 28.00 1991 155.3 27.50 1992 164.9 28.00 1993 201.7 32.75 11994 253.0 38.50 11995 292.0 41.75 1Forecast. Projections for 1995–96 to 1998–99 for net public sector debt as a percent of GDP are shown in chart 2.3 of the 1994–95 "Financial Statement and Budget Report". These projections show net public sector debt peaking at around 44 per cent. of GDP at end-March 1997, and falling thereafter. They are illustrative and depend on the assumptions made about growth of the economy.