HC Deb 04 November 2003 vol 412 cc629-30W
Mr. Howard

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will measure the surplus or deficit on the current budget between(a) the month in which the present cycle is judged to have started and the month in which the present cycle is judged to have finished, (b) the quarter in which the present cycle is judged to have started and the quarter in which the present cycle is judged to have finished and (c) the fiscal year in which the present cycle is judged to have started and the fiscal year in which the present cycle is judged to have finished, for the purpose of assessing whether he has satisfied his golden rule at the end of the present economic cycle. [135777]

Mr. Boateng

Progress against the golden rule is measured by the average surplus on the current budget over the period from the financial year in which the economic cycle starts up to and including the financial year in which it ends.

Mr. Howard

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he plans to measure the total surplus or deficit on the current budget(a) in cash terms since the start of the cycle and (b) as a share of GDP in each period covered by the cycle and take the average of these, for the purpose of assessing performance against his golden rule, over the present economic cycle. [135778]

Mr. Boateng

Progress against the golden rule is measured by the average surplus on the current budget expressed as a ratio to GDP over the economic cycle.