§ 55. Dr. Edmund Marshallasked the Minister for the Civil Service what cash limit applies to the expenditure of the English and Welsh Parliamentary Boundary Commissions for 1980–81.
§ Mr. HayhoeAs my predecessor told the House of Commons on 25 June 1980, the cash limit for the English and Welsh Boundary Commissions for 1980–81 is £191,000.
§ Dr. MarshallDoes not the latest estimate of the commissions' expenditure during the current year, which is £238,000, exceed the cash limit by more than 20 per cent? Is not that an example of the Government disregarding their own cash limits when it apparently suits their own party interests?
§ Mr. HayhoeThe work load of the boundary commissions has increased because of the progress that has been made by the Local Government Boundary Commission. As the hon. Gentleman will know, there is a linkage between the two. The excess of spending over the cash limit on the part of the Boundary Commissions will be met under the same subhead by a saving on the costs of the Royal Commission on criminal procedure, so no Supplementary Estimates are involved.