If the cost of care was more than that amount, the government would be sent a check for the cost overrun depending on the type of care treated.

FORBES: Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

Then the cost overrun was announced, and Gazprom squealed.

ECONOMIST: Russian energy

They could simply be a way to put pressure on the foreign firms to do something about the cost overrun, or to encourage them to bring in Gazprom, Russia's state-controlled gas giant.

ECONOMIST: Russian energy

The cost overrun is partly their fault, for demanding more office space than was originally planned, and partly due to other factors, such as the refurbishment of an old building which has cost more than was expected.

ECONOMIST: The subtle art of getting round EU rules

It is also grappling with a big cost overrun on another of its top priorities - the James Webb Space Telescope - and for which the shortfall will have to be picked up by programmes across the agency, perhaps even human spaceflight.

BBC: SLS: The rocket in need of a destination

If there is a cost-overrun on the West Coast line, investment in the East Coast line will be cut, as the profits won't be there to pay for it.

BBC: Railtrack's risky business