§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the figures for general Government expenditure as forecast in the Budget of November 1996 for the years 1997–98 and 1998–99, revalued on the basis of the GDP deflator assumed in(a) the July 1997 Budget and (b) the March 1998 Budget. [35865]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 23 March 1998]: General Government Expenditure as forecast in the November 1996 Budget revalued on the July 1997 Budget deflators would be £310.5 billion for 1997–98 and £310.0 billion for 1998–99. Based on the March 1998 Budget deflators the figures would be £310.6 billion for 1997–98 and £309.7 billion for 1998–99. (Figures are given in 1996–97 prices).