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Fiscal Responsibility Bill

I am critical of all the Front Benchers. In the past few days, the official Opposition have been talking about spending new money. It is bizarre beyond belief to think that the health budget can be ring-fenced. It is one of our biggest budgets, and commitments have been given from Government and Opposition Front Benchers about the sanctity of such budgets. It will be impossible for us to balance the books even at the rate that the Chancellor is talking about—I shall discuss in a moment whether that level would be adequate or quick enough—if we decide that some of the largest departmental expenditures will somehow be saved from cuts.