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23. Mr. Frank Field : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate when the balance of payments will return to surplus.
32. Mr. Flynn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate when the balance of payments will return to surplus.
77. Mr. Fisher : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate when the balance of payments will return to surplus.
175. Mr. Flannery : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate when the balance of payments will return to surplus.
Mr. Major : The Financial Statement and Budget Report for 1989-90 published on 14 March provided forecasts of the balance of payments for 1989 and the first half of 1990. The balance of payments on current account is expected to remain in deficit over this period. Forecasts for later years are not published.
52. Ms. Harman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments deficit.
83. Mr. Win Griffiths : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments deficit.
111. Mr. Grocott : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments deficit.
114. Ms. Gordon : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the current balance of payments deficit.
Mr. Major : I refer the hon. Members to the recently published Financial Statement and Budget Report.
37. Mr. Galloway : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the balance of payments deficit will begin to fall as a percentage of gross domestic product.
90. Mr. Foulkes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects the balance of payments deficit will begin to fall as a percentage of gross domestic product.
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Mr. Major : I refer the hon. Members to the reply that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Garrett).
26. Mr. Knowles : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the extent of share ownership in Britain.
172. Mr. Squire : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the extent of share ownership in Britain.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The joint Treasury and stock exchange survey carried out in January and February 1989 estimated that approximately 9 million people own shares, 20 per cent. of the adult population. This represents a threefold increase since 1979.
27. Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of savings in the British economy.
125. Mrs. Gorman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of savings in the British economy.
167. Mr. Carrington : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of savings in the British economy.
Mr. Jack : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the level of savings in the British economy.
Mr. Lilley : My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations about savings.
28. Mr. Evennett : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the real take-home pay of a married man, with two children, on average male earnings from 1978-79 to 1988-89.
108. Mr. David Nicholson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the real take-home pay of a married man, with two children, on average male earnings from 1978-79 to 1988-89.
171. Mr. David Shaw : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the real take-home pay of a married man with two children on average male earnings from 1978-79 to 1988-89.
173. Mr. Mans : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the real take-home pay of a married man with two children on average male earnings from 1978-79 to 1988-89.
Mr. Norman Lamont : Real take-home pay for a married man with two children on average male earnings is 29 per cent. higher in 1988-89 than in 1978-79.
115. Mr. Janman : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in the real take-home pay of a married man, with two children, on half average male earnings from 1978-79 to 1988-89.
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Mr. Norman Lamont : I refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancashire, West (Mr. Hind) on 22 March at column 585.
29. Mr. Baldry : 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.
139. Mr. Hayes : 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.
149. Mr. Hague : 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 Financial Statement and Budget Report gave a figure of 39 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 46 per cent.
30. Mr. Butterfill : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the introduction of independent taxation for husband and wife in April 1990.
123. Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the introduction of independent taxation for husband and wife in April 1990.
152. Mr. Rowe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the introduction of independent taxation for a husband and wife in April 1990.
Mr. Thurnham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the introduction of independent taxation for husband and wife in April 1990.
Mr. Norman Lamont : My right hon. Friend has received a number of letters on this subject.
31. Mr. Wood : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in British manufacturing productivity since 1979.
81. Mr. William Powell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in British manufacturing productivity since 1979.
93. Dr. Twinn : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in British manufacturing productivity since 1979.
107. Mr. Stevens : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in British manufacturing productivity since 1979.
Mr. Major : Output per head in United Kingdom manufacturing industry in the three months up to January 1989 was 48.8 per cent. higher than its average level in 1979, an average annual growth rate of 4.3 per cent.
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72. Mr. John Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the trends in productivity in British industry.
Mr. Major : Output per head in the manufacturing sector in the three months up to January 1989 was 55 per cent. higher than its average level in 1980. This is equivalent to an annual average growth rate of 5.3 per cent. significantly higher than the 1.6 per cent. growth achieved in the 1970s and 3 per cent. a year in the 1960s. Since 1980, United Kingdom manufacturing productivity growth has been higher than in any other major industrialised country.
34. Mr. Martyn Jones : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the value of imports in the current financial year.
60. Mr. Illsley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the value of imports in the current financial year.
164. Mr. Lambie : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the value of imports in the current financial year.
Mr. Major : Estimates for the value of imports for the whole of the financial year 1988-89 have yet to be published. The Financial Statement and Budget Report does not provide a forecast of the value of imports.
36. Mr. Hardy : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of people who will pay income tax in 1989-90.
Mr. Norman Lamont : It is estimated that about 21.3 million single people and married couples (24.9 million individuals) will be liable to income tax in 1989-90. These estimates are based on a projection of the 1986-87 survey of personal incomes and are provisional.
38. Mr. Norman Hogg : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what is his latest estimate of the balance of trade payments with respect to manufactured goods for the current financial year.
44. Mr. Henderson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the balance of trade payments with respect to manufactured goods for the current financial year.
55. Mr. Hinchliffe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the balance of trade payments with respect to manufactured goods for the current financial year.
92. Mr. Home Robertson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the balance of trade payments with respect to manufactured goods for the current financial year.
Mr. Major : Estimates for the balance of trade in manufactured goods for the whole of the financial year 1988-89 have yet to be published. The Financial Statement and Budget Report provides a forecast only for calendar year 1989.
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39. Mr. Jack Thompson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are interest rates in (a) Britain and (b) United States of America.
58. Mr. Stott : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the interest rates in (a) Britain and (b) Japan.
91. Ms. Walley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what are the interest rates in (a) Britain and (b) Japan.
118. Mr. Vaz : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the interest rates in (a) Britain and (b) Japan.
166. Mrs. Fyfe : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are interest rates in (a) Britain and (b) the United States of America.
Mr. Lilley : I refer the hon. Members to the reply that I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-East (Mr. Turner).
45. Mr. Robertson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates.
100. Mr. Rogers : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates.
124. Mr. McLeish : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates.
126. Mr. Roy Hughes : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on interest rates.
Mr. Lilley : Bank base rates are 13 per cent.
67. Mr. Wilson : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the interest rates in (a) Britain and (b) Germany.
102. Mr. Gareth Wardell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the interest rates in (a) Britain and (b) Germany.
Mr. Lilley : Three month interbank rates on 4 April were 13 per cent. in the United Kingdom and 6.5 per cent. in Germany.
89. Mr. Latham : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the level of interest rates since the Budget.
Mr. Lilley : Bank base rates have remained at 13 per cent. since the Budget.
42. Mr. Lord : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the weekly rate of net business start-ups in 1988.
68. Mr. Charles Wardle : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the weekly rate of net business start-ups in 1988.
160. Dame Pegger Fenner : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the latest figures for the weekly rate of net business start-ups in 1988.
Mr. Major : In 1987, the latest year for which figures have been published by the Department of Employment,
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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.46. Mr. Leighton : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of their income people on three quarters of average earnings were paying in total taxation (a) in 1978-79 and (b) in 1988-89.
56. Mr. Loyden : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of their income people on three quarters of average earnings were paying in total taxation (a) in 1978-79 and (b) in 1988-89.
109. Mr. Livingstone : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of their income people on three quarters of average earnings were paying in total taxation (a) in 1978-79 and (b) in 1988-89.
146. Mr. Leadbitter : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of their income people on three quarters of average earnings were paying in total taxation in (a) 1978-79 and (b) 1988-89.
Mr. Norman Lamont : A single person on three quarters of average earnings is estimated to have paid 40.4 per cent. of their income in income tax, national insurance contributions and indirect taxes (excluding local authority rates) in 1978-79 and 40 per cent. in 1988-89. The figure is forecast to fall to 39.2 per cent. in 1989-90.
47. Mr. McAvoy : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of their income the average earner was paying in direct and indirect taxes in (a) 1978-79 and (b) 1988-89.
57. Mr. McAllion : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of their income the average earner was paying in direct and indirect taxes in (a) 1978-79 and (b) 1988-89.
66. Mr. McCartney : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of his income was the average earner paying in direct and indirect taxes in (a) 1978-79 and (b) 1988-89.
Mr. Norman Lamont : A single person on average male earnings is estimated to have paid 42.3 per cent. of their income in income tax, national insurance contributions and indirect taxes (excluding local authority rates) in 1978-79 and 41.3 per cent. in 1988-89. The figure is forecast to fall to 40.6 per cent. in 1989-90.
84. Mr. Ashby : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the taxes which have been abolished since 1979.
134. Mr. Franks : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchquer if he will list all the taxes which have been abolished since 1979.
136. Sir David Price : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the taxes which have been abolished since 1979.
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155. Mr. Boswell : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list all the taxes which have been abolished since 1979.
Mr. Norman Lamont : The main taxes abolished since 1979 are : investment income surcharge in 1984 ;
national insurance surcharge in 1984 ;
development land tax in 1985 ;
capital transfer tax on lifetime gifts in 1986 ;
capital duty and unit trust instrument duty in 1988.
In addition, a number of minor duties have been abolished.
132. Mr. David Marshall : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much the top 1 per cent. of tax units paid in tax in 1988-89 and how much would this group have paid had the 1987-88 tax levels remained unchanged except for indexing.
138. Mrs. Mahon : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate how much the top 1 per cent. of tax units paid in tax in 1988-89 ; and how much this group would have paid had the 1987-88 tax levels remained unchanged except for indexing.
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