Government Expenditure

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate in cash terms in 1995–96 prices the reduction in central Government expenditure for 1997–98 and 1998–99 between the assumptions made in (a) the November 1996 Budget, (b) the July 1997 Budget and (c) the most recent assumption. [13190]

Mr. Darling
[holding answer 30 October 1997]: The provision made in the last two Budgets for Central Government within the Control Total programmes in 1997–98 and 1998–99 in cash and in 1995–96 prices are set out below: ---------
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|1997–98|
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|1998–99|
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The Government have not revised their economic assumptions since the July 1997 Budget.

Mr. Malcolm Bruce
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of general Government expenditure in cash terms for (a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99, using (i) current estimates, (ii) the estimates at the time of the July 1997 Budget and (ii) the estimates at the time of the November 1996 Budget. [13644]

Mr. Darling
[holding answer 5 November 1997]: The Government's estimates in cash terms of general government expenditure for 1997–98 and 1998–99 are set out in the table below: ---------------
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|July 1997    |
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|November 1996|
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The July 1997 figures are the current estimates for general government expenditure.