16 April 2004
Some of the country's leading experts and political spokespeople on public finance will be gathering next week for a round-table debate on the government's July 2004 Spending Review.
Hosted by Public Finance in association with RSM Robson Rhodes, the invitation-only event will take place at the Savoy Hotel, London, on Thursday, April 22.
Participants will include Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable; Conservative shadow chief secretary to the Treasury Howard Flight; Treasury select committee chair John McFall; Institute for Fiscal Studies director Robert Chote; and National Institute for Economic and Social Research director Martin Weale.
The gathering will debate the government's tax and spending options, the scope for public sector savings and the opposition parties' alternative spending plans.
Local government expert Tony Travers, who is chairing the event, said: 'It is vital that there should be more open discussion about the Spending Review process, which at present takes place under conditions of incredible secrecy.'
Full coverage of the event will be included in a special edition of Public Finance on April 30.
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