asked the Minister for Finance if he will give the following information for each of the financial years 1976 to 1981, inclusive, and for 1982 to date, and for the financial year (estimated) 1982: (a) the amount borrowed each year by the State; (b) the national debt; and (c) the cost of servicing this debt by way of (i) interest repayments (ii) capital repayments and (iii) the amount paid in interest outside the State.
Written Answers. - State Finances.
306.
Since the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to circulate it with the official report.
|
Year |
Exchequer Borrowing |
National Debt |
Interest Payments on National Debt |
Capital Repayments |
Interest paid Outside the State |
|
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
£m |
|
|
1976 |
506 |
3,612 |
268 |
244 |
66 |
|
1977 |
545 |
4,229 |
339 |
315 |
99 |
|
1978 |
810 |
5,167 |
442 |
623 |
137 |
|
1979 |
1,009 |
6,540 |
545 |
600 |
162 |
|
1980 |
1,217 |
7,896 |
699 |
553 |
209 |
|
1981 |
1,722 |
10,354 |
947 |
758 |
292 |
|
1982 to end March |
562 |
11,000 |
330 |
414 |
190 |
|
1982 estimate |
1,683 |
N.A. |
1,300 |
1,116 |
528 |
The figures for interest payments outside the State include payments to non-resident holders of Government gilt-edged stock. The 1982 estimate for these payments is based on the level of debt at 31 March 1982.
The figures for capital repayments do not include small savings and very short-term liabilities such as Exchequer Bills which are being constantly rolled over. The estimate for capital repayments in 1982 is based on debt outstanding at 31 March 1982.
The national debt figure for end-March 1982 is an estimate. It is not possible to provide a national debt figure for end 1982 because of differences between nominal and cash values of Government stocks, because the make up of Government borrowing as between domestic and foreign currencies is only decided from time to time during the course of the year and because of fluctuations in exchange rates.