Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Child Benefit on 28th October 1987.
Mr. Wareing Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions he has had regarding the imposition of taxes on child benefit; and if he will make a statement.
Mr. Major This subject was discussed during the social security review that preceded the Social Security Act 1986.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Gross Domestic Product on 24th July 1987.
Mr. Austin Mitchell Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average annual rate of growth in gross domestic product in the next five years, excluding the extraction of oil and gas; and what was the average rate reached in the decade to the end of 1973.
Mr. Major Table 2.3 in the 1987 “Financial Statement and Budget Report” shows growth assumptions for real GDP excluding extraction of oil and gas. These figures are consistent with the FSBR forecast to mid-1988 and the MTFS path for money GDP to 1990-91. The average annual increase in the output-based measure of GDP excluding oil and gas extraction in the decade to the end of 1973 was 2.7 per cent.
Mr. Austin Mitchell Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the average annual percentage increase in gross domestic product between 1979 and 1986, excluding the extraction of oil and gas, and the annual average in the decade to the end of 1973; and if he will provide comparable information available to him of figures for the United States, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Germany, France and Italy.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to the information on the United Kingdom’s gross domestic product obtainable from the Central Statistical Office’s computer database (available from the House of Commons Library).
Comparable data excluding oil and gas extraction are not available for the other countries specified. Comparable data on total gross domestic product (including oil and gas extraction) are shown in the “Annual National Accounts, Volume One” (1987) published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Manufactured Goods on 24th July 1987.
Mr. Rooker Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest balance of payments figures for manufactured goods.
Mr. Major I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall, therefore, write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Autumn Statement on 24th July 1987.
Mr. Canavan Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about his autumn statement on the economy.
Mr. Major My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Disposable Incomes on 24th July 1987.
Mr. Austin Mitchell Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the average annual percentage increase in real personal disposable income in 1974 to 1979 and from 1979 to the latest available period of 12 months.
Mr. Major The average annual increase in real personal disposable income from 1974 to 1979 was 2.1 per cent. From 1979 to the year ending in the first quarter of 1987 the average annual increase was 1.9 per cent.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Inner-City Programmes on 24th July 1987.
Mr. Gordon Brown Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will itemise all additional expenditure authorised on inner-city programmes for the financial year 1987-88.
Mr. Major I regret that it has not been possible to provide an answer before the summer recess. I shall, therefore, write to the hon. Member and place a copy of the letter in the Library.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Unit Costs on 24th July 1987.
Mr. Austin Mitchell Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Official Report his estimate of the percentage increase in unit labour costs for (a) manufacturing, (b) the production and extractive industries and (c) the rest of the economy in the latest 12 months for which figures are available, for each year since 1970, and for the decades ending in 1966 and 1973.
Mr. Major Figures are available for manufacturing industries and for the production industries (which includes the extractive industries) only from 1971 to 1985. The 1986 figures will be published in due course in the Department of Employment Gazette. No figures are compiled for the rest of the economy.
Unit labour costs percentage increase on previous year
Year | Manufacturing industries | Production industries
1971 | 8.2 | 7.5
1972 | 9.5 | 10.5
1973 | 5.9 | 5.4
1974 | 17.4 | 19.5
1975 | 37.2 | 36.6
1976 | 10.8 | 9.2
1977 | 10.8 | 7.7
1978 | 15.1 | 12.9
1979 | 17.9 | 13.7
1980 | 22.2 | 21.5
1981 | 9.0 | 7.2
1982 | 4.8 | 3.3
1983 | 0.2 | -0.9
1984 | 3.1 | 2.0
1985 | 4.2 | 4.6
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Public Expenditure on 24th July 1987.
Mr. McFall Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the public spending planning total for 1987-88 and 1988-89.
Mr. Major The Government’s plans for public expenditure were published in the 1987 public expenditure White Paper (Cm. 56).
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Property Services Agency on 23rd July 1987.
Dr. Twinn Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the financial and accounting responsibilities of the Property Services Agency and client departments for new civil works projects.
Mr. Major Under existing arrangements client Departments are responsible for defining their accommodation needs precisely, economically and in good time. PSA is responsible for deciding how best to meet these requirements – whether by using existing property, or by leasing or new construction. Where new construction is the agreed solution the capital cost of such projects (and the cost of the design resources associated with them) is generally met from the client Department’s public expenditure programme. But, with a few exceptions, expenditure on civil projects still falls on the PSA’s vote (Class XX. 19). Most Departments are required to use PSA exclusively to provide accommodation services.
From 1 April 1988 Departments will be required to meet, directly from their votes, the cost of major civil building projects which are funded from their public expenditure programmes. This will bring the treatment of such expenditure in the public expenditure survey and in estimates into line. From the same date Departments will be able to test the market, and to use agents other than the PSA for design and project management of new construction where it appears cost effective and in the interests of good management to do so. These arrangements will apply to projects estimated to cost £150,000 or more. The property repayment services arrangements will continue to govern the provision of leased accommodation, minor works and maintenance.
These changes are part of a continuing process which is designed to clarify the respective responsibilities of client and agent to ensure completion of projects to time and within budget. The introduction of payment will improve the incentive for the client Department to ensure, for example, that late and potentially expensive changes to specification are avoided. The introduction of competition, by untying Departments from PSA, will provide an opportunity for Departments to test other sources of supply as well as an incentive for further improvement of the efficiency of services provided by PSA.
Under the new payment arrangements Departments will remain accountable for the requirement; PSA will remain accountable for the services which it provides. Departments will not be required to second-guess PSA’s professional judgments. But the change in vote responsibilities will enable client Departments to discharge their role more effectively.
Under untying, Departments will not necessarily be expected to test the market from the outset or to use agents other than the PSA. The process is expected to be evolutionary for three reasons.
First, it will take time for Departments to acquire the necessary resources and skills; for some Departments, especially small Departments, or those with few building projects, it may not be economical for them to do so.
Secondly, Departments will need to satisfy the Treasury of their capacity to use alternative agencies.
Thirdly, it will be necessary to take into account the effects of changes in workload on PSA. Departments will therefore be expected to agree an advance programme of work with PSA.
PSA intends to move to a system of commercial accounting as soon as possible. When it does, PSA will be able to provide advance quotations on a comparable basis to those of outside agencies. In the interim it will be necessary for Departments to base their comparisons on the best estimates PSA can provide.
These arrangements will be reviewed in two years’ time.
The Government will take account of this reply in their response to the Select Committee on the Environment, whose report earlier this year on PSA recommended charging on a repayment basis and untying of Departments for some of the functions carried out by PSA.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Unemployment (Cost) on 20th July 1987.
Mr. Tony Banks Asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost, in taxes forgone and national insurance, and in extra social security payments, of the number of unemployed people in London for the latest date available.
Mr. Major I regret that regional figures for benefit expenditure on the unemployed are not available. It is not possible to estimate the revenue forgone.