Recommendation 30

The WGA gives a big picture view of the financial position of the UK government.66 We questioned the Treasury on the financial sustainability of public spending, to which it responded that the OBR forecast that accompanied the autumn budget, rather than WGA, would be the better source for looking at the sustainability of the spend versus revenue position. It commented that the WGA offers a broader view of government finances as it includes things like pension liabilities increases for the year, and so adds to the OBR forecast. However, “in terms of what the Government is doing to set public finances back on a stable footing, I think the Budget and the Budget forecast are the primary gauge.” 67