§ 17. Mr. Higginsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to express the Government's views on the recommendations of the Ball Committee's Report on Policy Optimisation.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettWithin the next two or three months.
§ Mr. HigginsWill the Chief Secretary take this opportunity of congratulating Professor Ball and his Committee on producing the best description of the Treasury's economic procedures to have been produced? It should be of great value to students. Will the right hon. Gentleman consider making his response in the form of a published document so that it can be studied carefully? Does he agree that there is no reason why Treasury Ministers should not formulate their objectives explicitly on a consistent basis, thus providing the criterion function which Professor Ball mentions?
§ Mr. BarnettI am happy to congratulate Professor Ball, and we shall certainly bear in mind what the hon. Gentleman has said when we reply to the recommendations.