§ 20. Mr. Simon HughesTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assess the advantages of increasing public expenditure in the forthcoming financial year. [32512]
§ Mr. DarlingWe have always made it clear that we intend to stick to the spending totals we inherited for the first two years of the Parliament, 1997–98 and 1998–99, while we undertake a Comprehensive Spending Review 305W to set the plans for the medium term. But we have also made a significant difference in the short term through measures to reallocate spending within and between departments to reflect our key priorities including education, employment and the health service.