Writing to the chancellor, the Treasury Committee has asked for an assurance that, should the 23 September ‘fiscal event’ involve major changes to taxation, the government would publish accompanying OBR forecasts ‘outlining the health of the nation’s finances’.
The Office for Budget Responsibility previously confirmed that it had begun preparatory work on a forecast at the end of July and would be in a position to provide a forecast by 21 September, although such work would by necessity provide less complete analysis that would be available ‘ in normal times’.
In the letter, Mel Stride, chair of the Committee, sets out his request to Chancellor Kwarteng as follows: ‘The Committee is aware of media reports that the government will make a significant fiscal announcement on Friday 23 September but that it will not be accompanied by an OBR forecast. I therefore seek your assurance that, in line with the Committee’s previous recommendation, if this announcement involves any major changes to the rates of existing taxes or the introduction of new taxes, it will be in a fiscal event accompanied by an OBR forecast.’
Writing to the chancellor, the Treasury Committee has asked for an assurance that, should the 23 September ‘fiscal event’ involve major changes to taxation, the government would publish accompanying OBR forecasts ‘outlining the health of the nation’s finances’.
The Office for Budget Responsibility previously confirmed that it had begun preparatory work on a forecast at the end of July and would be in a position to provide a forecast by 21 September, although such work would by necessity provide less complete analysis that would be available ‘ in normal times’.
In the letter, Mel Stride, chair of the Committee, sets out his request to Chancellor Kwarteng as follows: ‘The Committee is aware of media reports that the government will make a significant fiscal announcement on Friday 23 September but that it will not be accompanied by an OBR forecast. I therefore seek your assurance that, in line with the Committee’s previous recommendation, if this announcement involves any major changes to the rates of existing taxes or the introduction of new taxes, it will be in a fiscal event accompanied by an OBR forecast.’
