This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/may/15/robert-chote-office-budget-responsibility

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
What do you want to ask Robert Chote, Office for Budget Responsibility chairman? What do you want to ask Robert Chote, Office for Budget Responsibility chairman?
(about 4 hours later)
George Osborne created the Office for Budget Responsibility because he thought the Treasury used to fiddle the budget figures and that having an independent body in charge of the forecasts would give them more credibility. That makes Robert Chote, the chair of the OBR, Britain's budget regulator.George Osborne created the Office for Budget Responsibility because he thought the Treasury used to fiddle the budget figures and that having an independent body in charge of the forecasts would give them more credibility. That makes Robert Chote, the chair of the OBR, Britain's budget regulator.
It's a powerful post. Just how powerful became clear last year when Osborne had to insert drastic spending cuts into his autumn statement because the OBR declared the economy was weaker than previously thought (which meant that, without the extra cuts, Osborne would not meet his deficit reduction targets). I'm interviewing Chote later this week. What do you think I should ask him?It's a powerful post. Just how powerful became clear last year when Osborne had to insert drastic spending cuts into his autumn statement because the OBR declared the economy was weaker than previously thought (which meant that, without the extra cuts, Osborne would not meet his deficit reduction targets). I'm interviewing Chote later this week. What do you think I should ask him?
There's no point asking him if Ed Balls's policies would be any better. Under the terms of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act, the OBR is not allowed to comment on "alternative policy scenarios" (ie opposition policies). He is also barred from talking about the validity of the government's deficit reduction targets.There's no point asking him if Ed Balls's policies would be any better. Under the terms of the Budget Responsibility and National Audit Act, the OBR is not allowed to comment on "alternative policy scenarios" (ie opposition policies). He is also barred from talking about the validity of the government's deficit reduction targets.
But, as you can see from the latest copy of the OBR's Economic and fiscal outlook (pdf) – its key document setting out its forecasts for the economy and the public finances – Chote and his colleagues are not short of things to say.But, as you can see from the latest copy of the OBR's Economic and fiscal outlook (pdf) – its key document setting out its forecasts for the economy and the public finances – Chote and his colleagues are not short of things to say.
With Greece looking increasingly likely to leave the euro, the impact of a full-blown eurozone crisis on the UK economy would be an obvious place to start. After that, we could cover a wide range of economic topics.With Greece looking increasingly likely to leave the euro, the impact of a full-blown eurozone crisis on the UK economy would be an obvious place to start. After that, we could cover a wide range of economic topics.
Here are the questions that the Treasury committee asked Chote after the last budget. Here's his CV, explaining what he did before he became chair of the OBR. (His last job was running the Institute for Fiscal Studies.) And here's his response to a Treasury committee questionnaire sent to him before his appointment about what his plans were for the OBR. Here are the questions that the Treasury committee asked Chote after the last budget. Here's his CV, explaining what he did before he became chair of the OBR. (His last job was running the Institute for Fiscal Studies.) And here's his response to a Treasury committee questionnaire sent to him before his appointment, about what his plans were for the OBR.
I won't be able to use all the questions you suggest, but it is helpful to get ideas from others and it is useful to know what topics you find particularly interesting.I won't be able to use all the questions you suggest, but it is helpful to get ideas from others and it is useful to know what topics you find particularly interesting.