Orders of the Day — The Economy

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 4:30 pm on 13 December 2000.

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Photo of Barry Gardiner Barry Gardiner Labour, Brent North 4:30, 13 December 2000

The right hon. Gentleman has said that this Government were spending over and above what the country could afford—the equivalent of £600 for every taxpayer. Does his maths extend to multiplying £600 by 27 million—the number of taxpayers in this country? Does he agree that the figure thus produced—£16 billion—is the amount that he believes the Government are spending over and above what they should be spending? What would the right hon. Gentleman cut to bring spending back to what he believed was in line with what the country could afford?