Finance (No. 3) Bill

Again, that illustrates my earlier point: when the figures are brought down to a smaller level, people can understand their full impact and the state of the nation's finances. When I compare that to our personal finances, I say to people, ““For every £1 we've spent, we've borrowed 25p. How long would your household finances survive with that sort of economics?”” They simply would not. Indeed, the increase in private debt and in people's credit card debts, with some even committing suicide because they used credit cards to pay off credit cards, is a lesson that Governments should learn. Let us look at the growth and debt figures. Our debt is 10.4% of GDP, Spain's is 9.2% and Portugal's is 9.1%, but I do not see our interest rates on the gilt markets being as high as Portugal's. My hon. Friend the Member for North East Somerset made an excellent point when he described the percentage rates being below RPI by 300 unit points, or 500 unit points below normal. That shows that a credible plan had to be put in place. I find it distressing when we get into this argument with the Opposition, who say, ““You don't need to do all this.”” I will give the House an analogy. For 13 years, the previous Government fed everybody chocolate and burgers, and every person in this country now weighs 35 stone. Along comes the doctor, in the form of this Government, who says, ““I'm afraid if you don't lose at least 20 stone you are going to die very young and it is going to be disastrous for you.””