asked the Minister for Finance the cost to the Exchequer of (a) relief on domestic rates and (b) relief from car tax in 1978; and the total amount concerned expressed as a percentage of GNP.

It is estimated that the cost to the Exchequer in 1978 of (a) relief on domestic rates was £79 million and of (b) relief from car tax was £28 million. The total amount concerned represents 1.69 per cent of the 1978 GNP.

Can the Minister tell us at this stage if the equivalent figures for 1979 will show these concessions as a percentage of GNP, rising or falling?

That is a separate question. It is not sought in the original question.

As a percentage of GNP, so far as it can be estimated at the moment, it would be a slight fall.