§ Q7. Mr. JanmanTo ask the Prime Minister in what financial year he expects to balance the budget between Government expenditure and revenue received.
§ The Prime MinisterIt remains our policy to balance the budget over the economic cycle. The balance between revenue and expenditure in any one financial year will depend largely on cyclical developments.
§ Mr. JanmanMay I urge my right hon. Friend to keep as tight as humanly possible control on public expenditure so as to meet the objective of a balanced budget as soon as possible? Does he agree that the idea of spending an extra £35,000 million a year would be absolutely disastrous for the economy of this country? That is precisely what the Labour party seeks to do.
§ The Prime MinisterMy hon. Friend is entirely right. We have repaid a great deal of debt over recent years. It remains our policy to move back to a balanced budget as speedily as possible. The Opposition always promise to spend more. They never say where the money is coming from and they never will, but the taxpayers know where it is coming from—it will be coming from them.
§ Mr. Tony BanksAm I being completely cynical—[HON. MEMBERS: "Yes!"] Give me a chance! Am I being completely cynical in thinking that the Government's announcement about the great increase in public expenditure has something to do with a general election?
§ The Prime MinisterYes, totally cynical.