Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Contingency Reserve on 4th May 1989.
Mr. James Lamond To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what allocations from the contingency reserve he is currently considering.
Mr. Major Additions to programmes from the 1989–90 reserve have been, and will continue to be, announced after they are agreed.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Pensioners on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Stevens To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the abolition of the earnings rule for pensioners announced in his Budget.
Mr. Greg Knight To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the abolition of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners which he announced in his Budget.
Mr. Hanley To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the abolition of the earnings rule for pensioners which he announced in his Budget.
Mr. Major The abolition of the pensioners earnings rule was widely welcomed by interested individuals and organisations. In particular, the director general of Help the Aged wrote to my right hon. Friend after the Budget statement to record his appreciation of this and other Budget measures to help pensioners.
Mr. Foulkes To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives from retirement pensioners’ groups; and what matters he expects to discuss.
Mr. Ernie Ross To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives from pensioners’ groups; and what matters he expects to discuss.
Mr. Robert Hughes To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he next expects to meet representatives from pensioners’ groups.
Mr. Major My right hon. Friend has no current plans to meet representatives from pensioners’ groups.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Business Investment on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Gerald Howarth To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of business investment in the economy.
Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chancellor gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Scarborough (Sir M. Shaw).
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Visible Imports and Exports on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Allan Roberts To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for visible imports and exports in the current year.
Mr Barron To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for visible imports and exports in the current year.
Mr. Sean Hughes To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for visible imports and exports in the current year.
Mr. Major The Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1989–90 shows a forecast for the volume growth in both visible exports and visible imports in 1989 of 5½ per cent. Forecasts of the value of visible exports and imports in 1989 are not published.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Balance of Payments on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Fisher To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on his balance of payments forecast included in the current year’s Budget statement.
Dr. Moonie To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on his balance of payments forecast included in the 1989 Budget statement.
Mr. Major None.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Balance of Trade on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Cousins To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the balance of trade in manufacturing for the current year.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Middlesbrough (Mr. Bell) on 19 April, at column 168.
Mr. Lewis To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the balance of trade deficit in the current year.
Mr. Galloway To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the balance of trade deficit in the current year.
Mr. McWilliam To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate for the balance of trade deficit in 1989.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Barnes) on 19 April, at column 168.
Mr. Knox To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect current interest rates are having on the balance of trade.
Mr. Major The current level of interest rates is designed to slow the growth of domestic demand. The effects of this tighter monetary policy are already apparent in, for example, recent figures for MO, retail sales and the housing market. In time, the current account deficit will also start to narrow.
Mr. Hunter To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the United Kingdom’s current trade deficit.
Mr. Major The present trade deficit has primarily reflected the strength of domestic demand, particularly investment. The Government responded appropriately by tightening monetary policy and the effects of this are already apparent – for example, in recent figures for MO, retail sales and the housing market. As the growth of domestic demand slows, so the monthly current account and trade deficits are expected to fall.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Government Expenditure on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Neil Hamilton To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in general Government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, as a percentage of gross domestic product since 1982–83.
Mr. Gerald Bowden To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the fall in general Government expenditure, excluding privatisation proceeds, as a percentage of gross domestic product since 1982–83.
Mr. Major The 1989 Financial Statement and Budget Report gave a figure of 39½ per cent. for the ratio of general Government expenditure (excluding privatisation proceeds) to gross domestic product in 1988–89. The corresponding figure for 1982–83 was 46¾ per cent.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Company Profitability on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Moss To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in the profitability of non-North sea industrial and commercial companies in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Quentin Davies To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the rise in the profitability of non-North sea industrial and commercial companies in the latest year for which figures are available.
Mr. Major The net real rate of return for non-North sea industrial and commercial companies was estimated in the Financial Statement and Budget Report to have risen in 1988 to almost 11 per cent., its highest level for over 20 years.
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on the Child Poverty Action Group on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Graham To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives from the Child Poverty Action Group: and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Brooke My right hon. Friend has not met representatives from the Child Poverty Action Group, although he has seen their Budget representation.
Mr. Turner To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he last met representatives from the Child Poverty Action Group; and what matters were discussed.
Mr. Major I refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Renfrew, West and Inverclyde (Mr. Graham).
Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Productivity on 4th May 1989.
Mr. Hind To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual average increase in productivity for the whole economy since 1980.
Mr. Lilley Whole economy productivity has increased, on average, by 2.5 per cent. a year since 1980, faster than any other major industrialised country apart from Japan.
Mr. Burns To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual average increase in productivity for the whole economy since 1980.
Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind).
Mr. Allen Stewart To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual average increase in productivity for the whole economy since 1980.
Mr. Patrick Thompson To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual average increase in productivity for the whole economy since 1980.
Mr. David Davis To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual average increase in productivity for the whole economy since 1980.
Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friends to the reply my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind).
Mr. Anthony Coombs To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the growth of manufacturing productivity in the economy.
Mr. Major I refer my hon. Friend to the reply my right hon. Friend the Paymaster General gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bexhill and Battle (Mr. Wardle).