Economists have no more idea of how to control spending than astrophysicists - and a rather greater capacity to think up clever reasons for doing nothing.

It promises to control spending and cut the deficit while boosting the economy by investing in research, housing, skills and infrastructure.

This makes sense but it means that the efficiencies which control spending in other parts of the economy are unlikely to stem health's inexorable demand for more money.

Its attempts to control spending began in 1984 but only got into their stride a decade later.

Moreover, the league, rather than the franchise owners, would pay the players and coaches in order to control spending.