Rory O'Hanlon
Question:40 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Finance the estimated percentage increase in the rate of public expenditure in 1996 over 1995; the total increase in the level of the Exchequer borrowing requirement in 1996. [11597/96]
Written Answers. - Public Spending-EBR Statistics.
The estimated percentage increase in nominal terms in public expenditure in 1996 over 1995 provided for in the budget and the Revised Estimates Volume is 4.6 per cent. The corresponding percentage increases for the main components of public expenditure are as follows:
|
% |
|
|
(a) Current Expenditure |
|
|
Central Fund Services |
2.4 |
|
Gross Non-Capital Supply Services |
3.7 |
|
(b) Capital Expenditure Exchequer-financed Capital spending |
18.1 |
There are upward pressures on certain areas of current and capital spending. However, it is not unusual for expenditure savings to arise during the course of the year. The Government is monitoring the position.
The 1995 outturn for the Exchequer Borrowing Requirement, EBR, was £627 million, or 1.9 per cent of GNP. The 1996 budget set the target EBR for the current year at £729 million, representing 2.0 per cent of estimated GNP, or £102 million over 1995. There is no reason to think that this target will be exceeded.