So generally speaking, I suppose the ideal circumstance would be neither deficit nor surplus but a balanced budget based on tax revenues that rise very slowly.
Liam McArthur, speaking for the Scottish Liberal Democrats, said wholesale delay was neither necessary or desirable but ultimately it should be up to schools to decide they needed to delay.
But Labour leader Ed Miliband, speaking to union bosses at the conference on Monday night, said neither the public nor union members wanted to see strike action.