asked the Minister for Finance the figure for national debt as on 31 December 1978 with comparative figures for the previous two years.

The amount of the national debt is compiled at the end of each financial period. Final figures for end-1978 are not yet available. It is provisionally estimated that the level of the national debt as at 31 December 1978 will be of the order of £5,170 million. The national debt figure was £3,612 million as at 31 December 1976 and £4,219 million as at 31 December 1977.

Would I be correct in thinking from these provisional figures that there was an increase of 25 per cent in the national debt last year over the previous year?

£4,219 million up to £5,170 million, estimated.

Do these figures include local authority debts and the capitalised cost of public service pensions, or would those be separate figures?

Not the capitalised cost of public service pensions.

Do they include local authority debts?

I believe they do not.

Are there any figures or estimates available in regard to the capitalised cost of public service pensions?

They are not capitalised. They are funded annually out of taxation.