To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what research he has (a) commissioned and (b) evaluated on the conditions necessary for the lowering of borrowing costs; and what steps his Department is taking to reduce the cost of Government borrowing. (282656)

The Government’s debt management objective is to minimise, over the long term, the cost of meeting the Government’s financing needs, taking into account risk, while ensuring that debt management policy is consistent with the aims of monetary policy. The Government sets the UK Debt Management Office (DMO) an annual remit to meet its financing requirements consistent with this policy.

Further details can be found in the “Debt and reserves management report 2009-10” published alongside the Budget, and is available on:

http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/bud_bud09_debtreserves.htm