The Government is playing its part in keeping costs down by continuing the process begun in 2002 of bringing public expenditure under tighter control to reflect economic realities. We can no longer sustain the levels of spending which the exceptional economic growth between 1997 and 2000 allowed. As economic growth has moderated, the Government has followed a course of bringing spending increases more in line with increases in revenue. The gap between revenue and public spending growth has been reduced by keeping a tight rein on spending over the past 18 months. All Ministers have played their part by actively managing their budgets and by implementing effectively the measures relating to financial management and control which were announced in last year's Estimates debate. Particularly important is the monthly reporting to Government on expenditure trends and the requirements placed on Departments in relation to risk assessment and contingency planning to cater for unforeseen pressures.