HC Deb 02 December 1981 vol 14 cc131-2W
Sir David Price

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the current Treasury rules as to which items of public expenditure, current and capital, and of public guarantees, appear in the public sector borrowing requirement.

Mr. Brittan

[pursuant to his reply, 26 November 1981, c. 429]: The public sector borrowing requirement measures the net financing needs of the public sector after taking account of receipts and expenditure. Apart from the capital value of leased assets, all items included in the public expenditure planning total affect the requirement.

When the Government guarantee borrowing by a private sector institution the PSBR is affected only if and when the guarantee is called. The total value of Government guarantees outstanding is published annually in the Supplementary Statement on the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund Accounts.