§ 23. Mr. Hall-Davisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further steps he proposes to take to control the growth of public expenditure.
§ Mr. DiamondI would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's statement of 16th January and to my right hon. Friend the Chancellor's statements of 17th January and 19th March.—[Vol. 756, c. 1577–620; 1787–805. Vol. 761, c. 259.]
§ Mr. Hall-DavisIn view of the strong resentment caused by the continuing rise in Government expenditure when personal consumption is having to be cut back, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman to give an assurance that the Chancellor will not allow any Supplementary Estimates to be introduced next year, and that there will be no repetition of the gross exceeding of Estimates which occurred this year?
§ Mr. DiamondI should not dream of giving that assurance. If one wants to avoid having any Supplementary Estimates coming forward to the House, one has to make such lax Estimates in the first place as to cause waste of public expenditure.