§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussions officials from his Department have had with representatives of the International Monetary Fund concerning(a) Britain's fiscal policies and (b) the sustainability of Britain's fiscal stance in (i) the short-term, (ii) the medium-term and (iii) the long-term. [102106]
§ Ruth KellyThe IMF mission visited the UK last year for the 2002 Article IV consultation. The concluding statement was published on 9 December. The Article IV discussions covered a wide range of issues, including UK fiscal policy. The final Article IV report, summarising the discussions, was published on 3 March.
§ Mr. Stephen O'BrienTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the IMF's assessment of the medium-term widening of the fiscal deficit, as set out in the 2002 Article IV Consultation Report. [102119]
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§ Ruth KellyThe public finances remain strong and the Government are on track to meet their strict fiscal rules over the economic cycle. Modest levels of borrowing over the medium term reflect a sustained increase in capital investment of public services.