§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will restate Table 4.6 in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report (June 1998) to show figures in cash terms. [46396]
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§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 18 June 1998]Forecasts of the current budget, net borrowing and net cash requirement in cash terms were published in Table 4.4 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report (EFSR). Forecasts of the cyclically adjusted budget balances in Table 4.6 can be converted onto a cash basis using the money GDP figures in Table 4.1.
§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will extend (i) Table 4.A.1, page 49, and (ii) Table 4.A.2, page 50 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report (June 1998) to show the series given for the years 1999–2000 to 2002–03. [46397]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 18 June 1998]Forecasts of the public sector finances were published in Tables 4.4 and 4.5 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will recalculate tables 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report on the assumption that the retail prices index excluding mortgage interest payments averages(a) 3.0 per cent. in 1998–99 and 2.75 per cent. in 1999–2000 and (b) 3.25 per cent. in 1998–99 and 3.0 per cent. in 1999–2000. [46848]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 22 June 1998]The implications for the public finances of inflation higher than assumed in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report will depend on the reasons why inflation was higher, and the impact of such inflation on the economy.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will recalculate tables 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report on the assumption that total managed expenditure grows in real terms by(a) 0.75 per cent., (b) 1.5 per cent. and (c) 2.25 per cent. in 1999–2000, 2000–01 and 2001–02. [46851]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 22 June 1998]Full information contained in tables 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report (EFSR) cannot be recalculated for different assumptions about the growth of Total Managed Expenditure without information on the composition of that expenditure, in particular the allocation of expenditure between current and capital.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he will take if the cost of social security benefits in 1998–99 exceeds £95.8 billion, in order to ensure that total managed expenditure rises no higher than the figure cited in table 3A.1 in his Economic and Fiscal Strategy report. [46855]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 22 June 1998]Table 3A.1 sets out figures for 1998–99 in terms of the new aggregates to illustrate how the new control regime announced in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report would work. That regime does not apply in 1998–99.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reproduce tables 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7 in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report for each of the years from 1991–92 to 1996–97. [46847]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 22 June 1998]Many of the series contained in tables 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6, 4.7 can be found in Annex 4A of the Economic and Fiscal450W Strategy Report. Apart from assets sales, the remaining information can be derived from Table 10.1A of Financial Statistics and Table 2.1 of "Economic Trends" (which gives money gross domestic product). These publications can be found in the House of Commons Library. Information on assets sales can be found in Table B 17 of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report" (March 1998).