The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Category: Chief Secretary (1987-1989)

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Manufacturing Investment – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Manufacturing Investment on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. Brazier To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest information on the investment intentions of manufacturing industry.

    Mr. Brandon-Bravo To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest information on the investment intentions of manufacturing industry.

    Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friends to the reply that I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Salisbury (Mr. Key).

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Gross Domestic Product – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Gross Domestic Product on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. Moss To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the output measure of gross domestic product for the latest 12-month period.

    Mr. Bright To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the output measure of gross domestic product for the latest 12-month period.

    Mr. Major The output measure of gross domestic product is estimated to have grown by 4½ per cent. in the year to the third quarter of 1988.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Northern Ireland (Revenue Contributions) – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Northern Ireland (Revenue Contributions) on 26th January 1989.

    Rev. Martin Smyth To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to the contribution from Northern Ireland to United Kingdom exchequer revenue; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Northern Ireland’s attributed share of taxation. The attributed share in 1985–86 (the last year for which there are full figures) was £1,873 million.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Economic Prospects – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Economic Prospects on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. Leigh To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the economic prospects for the United Kingdom for 1989.

    Mr. Major A revised economic forecast for 1989 will be published at Budget time.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Grants – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Grants on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. Gill To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost to the Exchequer of all grants in aid to trade, industry and commerce in the financial year 1987–88.

    Mr. Major The table below shows the 1987–88 estimated outturn for grants and subsidies included under the trade and industry part of the trade, industry, energy and employment section of table 2.7 (Functional analysis of United Kingdom public expenditure) of volume I of “The Government’s Expenditure Plans 1988–89 to 1990–91” (Cm 288). The figures cover grants and subsidies to both public corporations and the private sector. Revised out-turn data for public expenditure in 1987–88 will be given in the 1989 public expenditure White Paper which is due to be published in the next few days. I shall write to my hon. Friend to update the figures given below shortly.

    Expenditure (1) on certain grants and subsidies to trade, industry and commerce (2)

    Grants Subsidies Total £ million
    Regional and general industrial support 455.0 242.2 697.1
    Scientific and technological assistance 3.2 0.4 3.6
    Support for aerospace, shipbuilding, coal, steel and vehicle manufacture 316.2 46.9 363.1
    Trade 9.0 151.2 160.2
    783.3 440.7 1,223.9

    (1) Estimated outturn figures.
    (2) Covers the trade and industry part of the trade, industry, energy and employment section of Table 2.7 of Volume I of Cm 288.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on New Businesses – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on New Businesses on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. Cash To ask the the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average weekly rate of business start-ups in net terms in 1988.

    Mr. Stevens To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average weekly rate of business start-ups in net terms in 1988.

    Mr. Nicholas Baker To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the average weekly rate of business start-ups in net terms in 1988.

    Mr. Major In 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published by the Department of Employment, the net increase in the number of businesses registered for VAT was 45,000, an average of approaching 900 a week. Indications are that the rate of increase in 1988 is even faster. The number of VAT registrations and de-registrations processed by Customs and Excise during 1988 indicate a net increase of over 1,200 a week. Department of Employment figures for 1988 will be available in the summer.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Economic Growth – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Economic Growth on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. Squire To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

    Mr. Oppenheim To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

    Mrs. Gorman To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

    Mr. Hunter To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

    Mr. Major Gross domestic product is likely to have grown by around 4½ per cent. in 1988. This would be the fourth consecutive year of growth in excess of 3 per cent. – a performance unmatched since the war.

    Mr. Knapman To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

    Mr. Quentin Davies To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

    Mr. Kirkhope To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

    Mr. Arbuthnot To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

    Mr. Major Since 1981 consumers expenditure in real terms has grown on average by 3½ per cent. per year, compared with 5 per cent. for investment and 4 per cent. for exports.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Balance of Payments – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Balance of Payments on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. McLeish To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the current balance of payments as a proportion of gross domestic product.

    Dr. Godman To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current balance of payments as a proportion of gross domestic product.

    Mr. Tom Clarke To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the current balance of payments as a proportion of gross domestic profit.

    Mr. Major In the latest 12 months for which figures are available the current account deficit as a proportion of gross domestic product was 2½ per cent.

    Mr. Strang To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list his policies which are aimed at reducing the balance of payments deficit; and if he will make a statement.

    Mr. Major The rise in the current account deficit has primarily reflected the strength of domestic demand. The Government responded appropriately by tightening monetary policy and the effects of this are already beginning to bite, particularly in the housing market and in the retail sector. However, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has made clear, the current account deficit is likely to be one of the last indicators to respond.

    Mr. Battle To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his latest forecast for the United Kingdom’s balance of payments.

    Mr. Cohen To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his latest forecast for the United Kingdom’s balance of payments.

    Mr. McFall To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his latest forecast for the United Kingdom’s balance of payments.

    Mr. Major The Autumn Statement forecast a current account deficit this year of £11 billion. There will be a new forecast published on Budget day in the usual way.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Economy (North-West) – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Economy (North-West) on 26th January 1989.

    Mr. Tony Lloyd To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the long-term future of the economy of north-west England.

    Mr. Parry To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made of the long-term future of the economy of the north-west.

    Mr. Major The Government do not publish long-term forecasts of the regional economies, but my assessment is that the prospects for north-west England are good, deriving from a more broadly based and flexible economy. For example, the region has one of the most rapidly falling unemployment rates in the United Kingdom.

    Mr. Sumberg To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the economic growth rate in the north-west of England for the last two years for which figures are available.

    Mr. Major The growth of GDP at factor cost in current prices in the north-west region is estimated to have been 10.1 per cent. between 1985 and 1986, and 7.4 per cent. between 1986 and 1987. These estimates are subject to revision, particularly the provisional 1987 figure.

  • Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on the Trade Deficit – 26 January 1989

    Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Trade Deficit on 26th January 1989.

    Dr. Reid To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the latest forecast for the United Kingdom trade deficit.

    Mr. Major The latest forecast was published in the Autumn Statement.