§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it would not be more convenient to replace the Annual Estimates for Defence, including the three Services, by a three-yearly period.]
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE (LORD CARRINGTON)No, my Lords. We already prepare our Annual Estimates within the framework of the allocations for the Defence Budget up to four years ahead published every year in the Public Expenditure White Paper. The Annual Estimates simply show the cash requirement for the coming year.
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, does not what the noble Lord is saying mean that the Estimates are farcical and have no relation to reality? Would it not be far better to have a triennial Estimate, instead of the annual one, to regulate the whole position and overcome the under-spending which is difficult to deal with because of the attitude of the Treasury?
§ LORD CARRINGTONNo, my Lords, I do not think that is so. I am not at all satisfied that if we did what the noble Lord suggests things would be any better or, indeed, that Parliamentary control would not be much worse.