Written question asked by William Cash (Conservative) on Wednesday, 11 November 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 17 November 1998. It was answered by Patricia Hewitt (Labour) on Tuesday, 17 November 1998 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out the amount of the excessive deficit for the United Kingdom decided by the Council of the European Union under Article 104C(6) of the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of the European Union; what plans Her Majesty's Government has pursuant to Council Declaration 11393/97 to comply with the Council recommendation to bring that situation to an end; within which timescale; and what assessment he has made of the impact on UK (a) taxation and (b) public expenditure.

Answer: Mr. Cash: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the amount of the excessive deficit for the United Kingdom decided by the Council of the European Union under Article 104C(6) of the Maastricht Treaty and the Treaty of the European Union; what plans Her Majesty's Government have, pursuant to Council Declaration 11393/97 to comply with the Council recommendation to bring that situation to an end; within which time scale; and what assessment he has made of the impact on UK (a) taxation and (b) public expenditure. [60008] Ms Hewitt: As a result of the Government's prudent approach to fiscal policy, the public finances have improved markedly. The Council Recommendation 11393/97 is concerned with the Council Decision of 26 September 1994 on the existence of an excessive deficit in the UK. This Decision was abrogated on 1 May 1998.

Secondary information