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Alternative Measures to GDP
21 April 2026
Lead MP
Roz Savage
South Cotswolds
Lib Dem
Responding Minister
Torsten Bell
Tags
NHSEconomyMental Health
Word Count: 4443
Other Contributors: 4
At a Glance
Roz Savage raised concerns about alternative measures to gdp in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
The Government should integrate ONS wellbeing metrics in [2D [K into spending decisions alongside GDP, require natural capital accounting i [1D [K in major infrastructure decisions, and introduce a parliamentary committee [K focused on long-term national well-being.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
GDP is an imperfect measure that fails to account fo [2D [K for the well-being of people, distribution of wealth, environmental health, [7D [K health, public goods, and long-term sustainability. It does not capture whe [3D [K whether people feel safe or if society is fair. GDP also distorts measures [K of economic activity by counting harmful outcomes such as increased crime a [1D [K and healthcare spending without addressing underlying issues. Moreover, it [K lacks mechanisms to account for the harm to future generations and promotes [8D [K promotes short-term thinking.
Adam Dance
Lib Dem
Yeovil
He thanks his hon. Friend for her speech and agrees [K that the focus on GDP growth will continue to damage quality of life in rur [3D [K rural areas by overlooking environmental damage, access to education, socia [5D [K social inequality, and worsening public health.
Chris Hinchliff
Lab
North East Hertfordshire
He requests that the Minister consider a formal targ [4D [K target to cut inequality, arguing that growth alone will not lead to a good [4D [K good life for all citizens due to an unjust society and environmental bound [5D [K boundaries being rapidly broken. I ask the Minister to take away the issue of imputed [7D [K imputed rent, which measures hypothetical rent on existing houses and infla [5D [K inflates GDP growth despite being theoretical.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
He commends the hon. Lady for highlighting that whil [4D [K while GDP measures the monetary value of goods and services, it fails to ca [2D [K capture critical aspects such as environmental sustainability, income distr [5D [K distribution, and health. He questions whether a new measure could allow fa [2D [K failures to be hidden by new definitions.
Mike Wood
Con
Mid Derbyshire
Acknowledged the importance of measuring quality of [K life beyond GDP and highlighted that rural areas are disproportionately aff [3D [K affected by the limitations of GDP, which overlooks aspects of rural living [6D [K living that contribute to well-being.
Government Response
Torsten Bell
Government Response
Bell acknowledged that GDP is not a perfect measure [7D [K measure but argued it remains central to understanding economic performance [11D [K performance, especially given its strong correlations with other important [K factors such as health outcomes. He noted the UK's recent GDP growth and cr [2D [K criticised previous governments for slashing public investment despite focu [4D [K focusing on GDP growth. Bell emphasised the need for continued house buildi [6D [K building to address housing affordability issues affecting younger generati [8D [K generations. He supported broader measures of wealth distribution and natur [5D [K natural capital but maintained that GDP remains crucial due to its direct i [1D [K impact on income, business revenues, and tax bases funding public services. [9D [K services.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.