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Unemployment
Mr. Redwood: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the impact on unemployment of a one per cent. increase in average earnings. [47542]
Mrs. Liddell [holding answer 29 June 1998]: The impact on unemployment would depend on why wages increased, and how employers, employees and others in the labour force responded to the increase in wages. For example, an increase in wages reflecting higher productivity need not have any effect on unemployment.
Public Sector Investment
Mr. Malcolm Bruce: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for each year from 1978-79 to 2001-02 the expenditure by the Government on public sector net investment (a) in real terms in 1997-98 prices and (b) as a percentage of gross domestic product. [46387]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 18 June 1998]: Figures for public sector net investment can be found in Table 4A.1 or Table 4.5 (for years beyond 1998-99) of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report (EFSR). Projections
29 Jun 1998 : Column: 27
for the GDP deflator and money GDP can be found in Table 4.1 of the EFSR. Historical figures for GDP can be found in Table 2.1 of Economic Trends. These publications can be found in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update Table 318, page 128, of the Financial Statement and Budget Report March 1998, to include information published in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report (June 1998); and if he will make a statement. [46380]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 18 June 1998]: There has been no change to the outturn information for 1996-97 since the Financial Statement and Budget Report March 1998. Provisional outturn information by department for 1997-98 was published in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (Cm 3988) on 19 June. There have been no changes to the 1998-99 Control Total, with the exception of those noted in Table 3A.1 of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report 1998 (Cm 3978).
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date the Bank of England was first notified of the new plans for public spending and borrowing, as set out in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report (June 1998); and if he will make a statement. [46384]
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the Monetary Policy Committee of the Bank of England was informed of the Chancellor's statement on public spending prior to reaching its decision to raise interest rates on 4 June; [46533]
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if the Treasury representative present at the Monetary Policy Committee's meeting on 3 and 4 June was informed of the plans set out in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report; [46853]
Mrs. Liddell
[holding answers 18, 19 and 22 June 1998]: I refer to what the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in response to the right hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Maude) at Treasury Oral Questions on 25 June 1998, Official Report, column 1153.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the annual real terms growth of (a) total Government expenditure, (b) control total expenditure, (c) current expenditure and (d) capital
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expenditure, for (i) 1978-79 to 1982-83, (ii) 1982-83 to 1986-87, (iii) 1986-87 to 1991-92, (iv) 1991-92 to 1996-97 and (v) 1996-97 to 2001-02. [46386]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 18 June 1998]: Figures for current expenditure and capital expenditure can be found in Table 4A.1 or Table 4.5 (for years beyond 1998-99) of the Economic and Fiscal Strategy Report (EFSR). Total Managed Expenditure is the sum of current spending and net capital investment. Figures for the Control Total up to 1996-97 are given in the Table B24 of the Financial Statement and Budget Report (March 1998). The figure for 1997-98 was published in the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (19 June) and the 1998-99 figure was given in the FSBR, with the revisions noted in Table 3A of the EFSR. Figures for the Control Total are available on a consistent basis only from 1984-85. This concept is not applicable beyond 1998-99, as from 1999-2000 a reformed control regime will be introduced. Projections for the GDP deflator and money GDP can be found in Table 4.1 of the EFSR. Historical figures for GDP can be found in Table 2.1 of Economic Trends. These publications can be found in the House of Commons Library.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in which departmental areas, and for what reasons, there was underspend in 1997-98, compared with the spending plans as set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report, March 1998; what was the size of the underspend; and if he will make a statement. [46403]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 18 June 1998]: Reasons for individual departmental underspends are matters for the departments concerned. Provisional control total outturn by department is shown in Table 1 of the Public Expenditure Outturn White Paper (PEOWP) (Cm 3988) published on 19 June.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate what the financial markets would have charged for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link guarantee. [46969]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 22 June 1998]: The Government believe that the amount of finance required for the Channel Tunnel Rail Link is such that the financial markets would have been unable to provide the credit support which Government are to give.
Mr. Gibb:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the basis of the valuation of the Government's participation in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link; what is that value; and who prepared the calculations on behalf of the Government. [46858]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 22 June 1998]: The information requested was set out in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister on 3 June 1998, Official Report, columns 367-70. The Government's participation in the Channel Tunnel Rail Link was assessed using a model of London and Continental Railways' future finances prepared by the company and independently reviewed by external consultants.
29 Jun 1998 : Column: 29
Mr. Heathcoat-Amory:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he plans to classify expenditure on hospital repairs as current or capital spending. [46849]
Mr. Darling
[holding answer 22 June 1998]: Expenditure on hospital repairs will follow the classification rules for the national accounts.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what form the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be published; and if he will make a statement. [47862]
Mr. Darling:
A White Paper setting out the outcome of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be published before the summer Recess.
Mr. Malcolm Bruce:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his policy in relation to consultation on departmental spending plans for the period 1999-2000 to 2001-2002; and if he will make a statement. [47863]
Mr. Darling:
When setting up the Comprehensive Spending Review, Departments were encouraged to consult outside bodies where that would assist the conduct of the Review. Many representations have been made.
Mrs. Lait:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received on the consequences of VAT harmonisation on London's art market. [46320]
Dawn Primarolo:
I have received representations from the British Art Market Federation and from members of the art trade, and am aware of concerns about the effects of harmonisation of VAT on imports of works on the UK art market.
(2) if the Governor of the Bank of England was informed of the Chancellor's statement on public spending prior to the Monetary Policy Committee reaching its decision to raise interest rates on 4 June. [46534]
(2) if his Department informed the Monetary Policy Committee of the plans set out in the Economic and Fiscal Strategy report at or before its meeting on 4 June. [46852]
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