§ Mr. DobsonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the first official estimate which was published of the public sector borrowing requirement for 1992–93 and 1993–94, respectively; what subsequent estimates were published; and if he will give the date of publication in each case.
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§ Mr. Portillo[holding answer 9 November 1992]: Forecasts of the PSBR for the year ahead are published annually in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report", and then updated in the subsequent "Autumn Statement". Estimates given in the FSBR for years beyond the year ahead are projections, rather than forecasts, based on illustrative assumptions about the medium-term path of the economy.
A forecast of £28.1 billion for 1992–93 was made in the 1992 FSBR published on 10 March. A revised estimate will be given in the 1992 "Autumn Statement". No forecasts have yet been published for 1993–94.