Britain: An official handbook > 1993

LAND AND PEOPLE
Availability of Certain Durable Goods
H
■
(full or partial)
□
(freezer or
fridge freezer)
(video)
(compact
disc player)
Source: General Household Survey
shopping centres, often including large
supermarkets and do-it-yourself stores,
are usually planned with the motorist in
mind.
The growth in car ownership has brought
great benefits but also a number of problems,
notably, in many towns and cities, increased
congestion, noise and air pollution arising
from motor vehicle emissions. Cars, taxis and
motor cycles accounted for 86 per cent of all
passenger transport in Great Britain in 1990,
compared with 55 per cent in 1961. To
relieve road congestion, the Government
regards carefully targeted improvements to
the road system as essential.
century. According to a United Nations
report on human development published in
1992, Britain ranked tenth out of 160
countries on a human development index that
combines life expectancy, education levels
and basic purchasing power.
Britain has also performed well
economically. Growth between 1980 and 1990
was higher than in all other major European
Community countries except Spain. In the
early 1990s Britain and many other
industrialised countries have been affected by
recession. Gross domestic product in Britain
grew by 0 8 per cent in 1990, but declined by
2 4 per cent in 1991.
Living Standards
Economic Growth
Marked improvements in the standard of
living have taken place during the twentieth
Eating and Drinking Habits
The general level of nutrition remains high.
Over the last 25 years there have been
substantial rises in the consumption of
poultry, instant coffee and processed
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