The Rt. Hon. Sir John Major KG CH

Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 1990-1997

Chief Secretary (1987-1989)

Mr Major’s Written Parliamentary Answer on Economic Growth – 26 January 1989

Below is the text of Mr Major’s written Parliamentary Answer on Economic Growth on 26th January 1989.


Mr. Squire To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

Mr. Oppenheim To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

Mrs. Gorman To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

Mr. Hunter To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the current level of economic growth.

Mr. Major Gross domestic product is likely to have grown by around 4½ per cent. in 1988. This would be the fourth consecutive year of growth in excess of 3 per cent. – a performance unmatched since the war.

Mr. Knapman To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

Mr. Quentin Davies To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

Mr. Kirkhope To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

Mr. Arbuthnot To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the composition of growth in the United Kingdom as between consumer expenditure, exports and investment over the period 1981 to the latest available date.

Mr. Major Since 1981 consumers expenditure in real terms has grown on average by 3½ per cent. per year, compared with 5 per cent. for investment and 4 per cent. for exports.