Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Public Expenditure – 26 November 1987

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Public Expenditure on 26th November 1987.

Mr. John Townend To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the movement of general Government expenditure since 1982-83; and what this now represents as a proportion of gross domestic product.

Mr. Fallon To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the movement of general Government expenditure since 1982-83; and what this now represents as a proportion of gross domestic product.

Mr. Major In real terms general Government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, grew by about 1.75 per cent, a year in the period 1982-83 to 1986-87; as a percentage of GDP it is expected to be about 42.5 per cent, in 1987-88. For further details see tables 2.1 and 2.2 of the Autumn Statement 1987 HC No. 110.

Mr. Patchett To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest figure for the public expenditure outturn in 1987-88.

Mr. Major The latest forecast of the planning total for 1987-88 is £147.6 billion as set out in the 1987 Autumn Statement.