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Gordon Brown’s record and challenges for future spending. Robert Chote, Carl Emmerson, Chris Frayne and Gemma Tetlow Institute for Fiscal Studies. Outline. How does Mr Brown’s bequest compare to the inheritance he received? What plans will he leave for his successor?
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Gordon Brown’s record and challenges for future spending Robert Chote, Carl Emmerson, Chris Frayne and Gemma Tetlow Institute for Fiscal Studies
Outline • How does Mr Brown’s bequest compare to the inheritance he received? • What plans will he leave for his successor? • Spending plans for the CSR period look tight • Some difficult trade-offs will be required between spending on health, education and poverty
International comparison • Many other countries have strengthened their public finances even more • UK still has relatively big structural deficit • UK remains ‘mid-table’ when comparing government debt
How has spending increased? Source: HM Treasury Note: Average annual increase 1996–97 to 2007–08
Why have tax revenues gone up? Note: Increase between 1996–97 and 2007–08
Why have tax revenues gone up? Note: Increase between 1996–97 and 2007–08
Why have tax revenues gone up? Note: Increase between 1996–97 and 2007–08
Why have tax revenues gone up? Note: Increase between 1996–97 and 2007–08
What might the trade-off be? • Health spending • Wanless Review recommended minimum 4.4% annual growth in spending • Education spending • State school spending per pupil to match that in the private sector in 2005–06 • Child poverty • £4½ billion needed to meet 2010–11 target
What increases might we have? 9 smaller departments Department for Constitutional Affairs Source: HM Treasury ; IFS
What increases might we have? 9 smaller departments Department for Constitutional Affairs Source: HM Treasury ; IFS
A trade-off between health and education? Labour to date
A trade-off between health and education? Wanless recommendation = 4.4% Labour to date
A trade-off between health and education? Wanless recommendation = 4.4% Labour to date Expected growth in national income = 2½%
A trade-off between health and education? Wanless recommendation = 4.4% Labour to date Expected growth in national income = 2½%
Conclusions • Public finances in a stronger position that Mr Brown inherited • £20 billion tightening expected over the next five years • £10 billion increase in tax, £10 billion cut in spending • CSR set to be very challenging • Additional money for child poverty to be found later?