When the project was first launched, the economic climate was healthy. Since then, however, as we are all aware, the economy has suffered significantly, particularly because of the downturn in the global economy, so much so that the affordability of each capital project must be examined closely in the context of overall Government expenditure. This brings me to the question of the general government balance, the critical measure of what can be accommodated within our obligations under the stability and growth pact of the Maastricht Treaty. Under EU rules, where projects are financed on a deferred payment basis by the private sector, the capital value of such projects is a charge on the general government balance over the construction phase.