The plan was predicated on the continuation of stable macro-economic and budgetary policies. It was also based on the broadly positive outlook over the period then being forecast for the world economy as a whole. On budgetary policy, the NDP stated that the annual allocation and ultimately the overall commitment of the plan would have to be kept to a level that respected the public expenditure ceilings set by Government, take account of wider budgetary priorities and accord with the requirements of economic stability.