Professor John McHale:

I would not exaggerate the data advantage of the Department of Finance. We have an excellent secretariat which is absolutely on top of all the numbers available. It is also fair to say that we get excellent co-operation from the Department of Finance. There has been no request from us for data which has not been met by the Department. The reason for the differences in views is not the superior access to data. It could be different analysis or the political factors which also weigh in with the economics. The data advantage is a very small part of it.