I propose to answer Questions Nos. 25 and 150 together.
I did not announce a post-budget spending figure on the publication of the 1998 Abridged Estimates because I considered that this was a matter proper to budget day itself, especially as there is only a short time between publication of the Abridged Estimates and budget day.
The statement I issued on the publication of the Estimates set out very comprehensively how the Government's spending plans for 1998 affect its current and capital expenditure targets. In the statement I indicated that budget day spending measures may increase current expenditure, as defined in the Government's programme, above the 1.8 per cent figure reflected in the Abridged Estimates, but that I am confident that the postbudget figure will remain well below the 4 per cent limit provided in our programme. I also indicated that I am determined that whatever happens after the 1998 budget, for example by way of unavoidable additional spending, the 1998 outturn for net current spending will be below the 4 per cent limit.