Budget 2010
The Committee held the following evidence sessions as part of its inquiry into the 2010 Budget. The Committee did not publish a report.
Written evidence
Monday 29 March -
transcript
Witnesses: Mr Robert Chote, Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies; Mr Martin Weale CBE, Director, National Institute of Economic and Social Research, Mr Alan Clarke, Economist, BNP Paribas and Mr Simon Hayes, Chief UK Economist, Barclays Capital; Mr Robert Chote, Director, Institute for Fiscal Studies, Mr John Whiting OBE, Tax Policy Director, Chartered Institute of Taxation, Mr Ian McCafferty, Chief Economic Advisor, CBI, Ms Francesca Lagerberg, Head of Tax, Grant Thornton LLP and Professor Colin Talbot, Manchester Business School; Mr Dave Ramsden, Chief Economic Adviser, Mr Edward Troup, Managing Director, Budget, Tax and Welfare, and Mr Andrew Hudson, Managing Director, Public Services and Growth, HM Treasury
Tuesday 30 March -
transcript
Witnesses: Rt Hon Alistair Darling MP, Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr Dave Ramsden, Chief Economic Adviser, Mr Mark Bowman, Director, Budget and Tax, and Mr Andrew Hudson, Managing Director, Public Services and Growth, HM Treasury
Pre-Budget Report 2009
Treasury Committee calls for more clarity on plans to reduce structural deficit
The Committee held three evidence sessions with: independent experts, HM Treasury officials and the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The Committee acknowledged that deciding the right time for fiscal consolidation requires making a fine judgement about the resilience of the recovery. There is currently considerable uncertainty in the economic outlook; and any fiscal consolidation will have to function in that context. It may be difficult for any current consolidation plan to command universal support. It will therefore be very important to add greater detail and clarity to the plan sooner rather than later.
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Government Response
Budget 2009
The Committee called for clarity from the Government as to how, amidst the current economic difficulties, it plans to meet its commitment to halve child poverty by 2010-11. It also raised doubts about the official growth forecasts and urged the Government to restore credibility with regard to the public finances through greater accountability to Parliament and the public.
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Government Response
Pre-Budget Report 2008
The Committee called for the Government to do more to ease the flow of credit. The Committee's report on the 2008 Pre-Budget Report highlighted the lack of bank lending as "the single most critical problem for the economy in the near term."
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Government Response
Budget 2008
The Committee cautioned that the Treasury may have given insufficient weight to the risks of continued financial market turbulence in making its forecasts for economic growth.
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Government Response
Pre-Budget Report 2007
The Committee recomended that the Pre-Budget Report should be largely consultative in nature, and should retain its focus on consultation on fiscal measures.
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Government Response
Budget 2007
The Committee concluded that a "significant improvement" during the period of the Comprehensive Spending Review will be needed for the Government to meet its target for halving child poverty over the next four years.
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Government Response
Pre-Budget Report 2006
The Committee recommended that low income families need to receive more short-term cash aid if the Government is to meet its targets on child poverty.
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Press Notice |
Government Response