asked the Taoiseach if, using whatever statistical form is appropriate, he will state in respect of the years 1949 to 1955, inclusive, the percentage which annual imports bore to the total national expenditure on goods.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Imports and National Expenditure.
It is considered that from an economic standpoint the most appropriate relationship to consider is the percentage which the total imports of goods and services form of "total use of resources", i.e. the aggregate of current consumption of goods and services by persons and by public authorities, of gross capital formation (including the value of changes in stock) and of exports of goods and services to the rest of the world. For the years 1949-54 the following are the percentages which imports of goods and services formed of total use of resources:—
|
Year |
Percentage |
|
1949 |
24.7 |
|
1950 |
27.9 |
|
1951 |
32.0 |
|
1952 |
26.1 |
|
1953 |
25.6 |
|
1954 |
25.1 |
The corresponding data for the year 1955 are not yet available.
The figures asked for by the Deputy relating the merchandise imports to the current national expenditure on goods alone are of much less economic significance, in that such imports form a constituent not only of current expenditure on goods alone but are also included in the expenditure on services (e.g. petrol in transport) and in addition constitute part of capital formation and of certain exports.