1986 budget deficit and borrowing
The Minister estimated a 1986 current budget deficit of about £1,430 million and Exchequer borrowing of about £2,180 million, rejecting Connolly’s suggestion that the deficit might exceed £1,500 million.
asked the Minister for Finance the total estimate of the budget deficit for 1986; and the total amount of borrowing required for 1986.
Comment on this
Estimates of the likely outturn for the current budget deficit and the Exchequer borrowing requirement are normally given immediately after the end of each quarter when the quarterly Exchequer returns are published. At the time of the publication of the end-September Exchequer returns it was estimated that the current budget deficit for 1986 would be around £1,430 million and that the Exchequer borrowing requirement would be of the order of £2,180 million. The end-December Exchequer returns for 1986 will be published at the beginning of January 1987.
Comment on this
Would the Minister agree that in view of the drop in consumer spending the deficit at the end of the year could be over £1,500 million? Would I be wrong in that?