The iron Santa Claus
Article Abstract:
UK Chancellor Gordon Brown has been taking a very cautious approach to public spending until recently. However, his Comprehensive Spending Review sets down plans to spend an additional 21 billion pounds sterling on health over the period to 2001, with education receiving an additional 19 billion pounds sterling. The government will also make available more money for other causes, including scientific research and pensioners. However, the Comprehensive Spending Review contains many examples of creative accounting, and this raises questions about how spending will be controlled.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1998
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A new approach
Article Abstract:
UK Chancellor Gordon Brown is adopting some new approaches to controlling public spending. He has now fixed departmental spending, apart from social security, for three years, and no spending negotiations will take place in 1999. A committee of ministers will oversee spending, and budgets will be determined by success in meeting new output measures. This approach could prove successful, but there is a danger that fixed three-year settlements could prove to be either too generous or too restrictive.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1998
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Farewell, straitjacket
Article Abstract:
UK Chancellor Gordon Brown's plans to increase public spending are not quite as generous as they appear. The government will increase capital spending, but only from the current unusually low level. The share of national income spent on capital income will still remain below the average for the period since 1988. On average, current spending will rise by only 2.5%. There will be large rises in spending on education and health, but these will be balanced out by reduced spending in other areas.
Publication Name: The Economist (UK)
Subject: Business, international
ISSN: 0013-0613
Year: 1998
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