Office for Budget Responsibility

Lord Ryder of Wensum Excerpts

Tuesday 6th July 2010 Lords Chamber

[Lord Sassoon]

I thank the noble Lord for his questions, but I thought that I had addressed the main point already. There has been no disagreement. Nothing has happened. It has always been the case that Sir Alan Budd planned to leave in the summer and that is exactly what he is going to do. My right honourable friend the Chancellor is enormously grateful for the important work that he has done to get the office up and running. As for appointments, it would have been strange to appoint somebody before Sir Alan Budd had even announced his departure. The appointment process for his successor will take full account of the need for continuity.

[Lord Ryder of Wensum]

My Lords—

[Lord Grabiner]

My Lords—

[Lord Strathclyde]

I really do think that it is time to hear from a Conservative Back-Bencher.

[Lord Ryder of Wensum]

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that in nine out of the past 10 years Treasury forecasts for growth exceeded the actual growth levels? Is he therefore not entirely entitled to review the process by which government statistics are worked out?