§ Mr. St. AubynTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate by how much (a) tax and (b) public sector borrowing would have to rise in order to raise health expenditure to 8 per cent. of GDP on the assumption that no changes are made to other expenditure predictions outlined in the 1999 Budget report. [110111]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithDecisions on NHS expenditure will be taken in the spending review.
§ Mr. St. AubynTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate the Treasury has made of the consequences for inflation of a rise in NHS expenditure over five years to the EU average if funded by additional taxation. [110107]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithIt is the task of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee to set interest rates to ensure the Government's inflation target is met. Decisions on future NHS expenditure will be taken in the forthcoming Spending Review.