HC Deb 24 July 1996 vol 282 c540W
Mr. Sheerman

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on present levels of public expenditure. [37674]

Mr. Waldegrave

The current level of general government expenditure is £308 billion. The Cabinet discussed the forthcoming public expenditure survey last week. We reaffirmed our commitment to reduce the share of national income taken by the state. We agreed that spending should be kept within the tightest possible limits, and certainly within the cash plans my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor announced in the Budget last year.