HC Deb 19 December 1980 vol 996 cc363-4W
Mr. Brotherton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the number of occasions since May 1979 on which he has made forecasts of the size of the public sector borrowing requirement; what those forecasts were; and what was the eventual out-turn.

Mr. Biffen

Since May 1979 we have made forecasts of the PSBR on four occasions. They are as follows:

  1. (i) June 1979. The Financial Statement and Budget Report 1979–80 included a forecast of the PSBR in 1979–80 of £8.3 billion. The eventual outturn was £9.9 billion.
  2. (ii) November 1979. The Industry Act forecast included a forecast of the PSBR in 1979–80 of £81¼ billion.
  3. (iii) March 1980. The Financial Statement and Budget Report 1980–81 included a forecast of the PSBR in 1980–81 of £8.5 billion.
  4. (iv)November 1980. The Industry Act forecast included a forecast of the PSBR in 1980–81 of £11½ billion.