§ Sir H. Legge-Bourkeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes have been made in the estimates for public expenditure in 1969–70 as between programmes published in January, 1968, in Command Paper No. 3515 and the programmes published in February, 1969, Command Paper No. 3936; and what were the principal reasons for these changes.
§ Mr. DiamondThe table below lists the main changes in estimates for the functional programmes in 1969–70 incorporated in the White Paper "Public Expenditure: 1968–69 to 1970–71" of February, 1969 (Cmnd. 3936), as compared with the estimates for that year incorporated in the Prime Minister's statement of January, 1968 (Cmnd. 3515).
Within the unchanged total estimate, the principal reductions were:
Defence Budget: mainly due to slower deliveries of equipment, and a revised forecast of the savings arising from the new defence programme announced in Cmnd. 3515.
Roads and Public Lighting: later information about expenditure by local authorities.
Agriculture, etc.: lower forecast expenditure on agricultural support (deficiency payments, grants and subsidies), including the first stage of the phasing out of the egg subsidy.
207WHousing: a longer construction period for the agreed programme of new housing and lower purchases of land by local authorities.
The principal increases were:
Other Assistance to Employment and Industry: largely a revised forecast of expenditure on investment grants in the light of more recent information on the level of eligible investment.
Social Security: increasing number of retirement pensioners, higher incidence of claims for sickness benefit, the 3s. increase in family allowances in October, 1968.
Other Expenditure: largely expenditure by the Northern Ireland Government.
CHANGES IN FUNCTIONAL EXPENDITURE PROGRAMMES INCORPORATED IN CMND. 3936, COMPARED WITH CMND. 3515 (LOWER ESTIMATE IN CMND. 3936.-) 1969–70 Estimates Prices £million Defence Budget - 95 Other military defence - 20 Overseas aid - 10 Other overseas services - 15 Roads and public lighting - 50 Transport - 10 Technological services + 5 Other assistance to Employment and Industry + 50 Research Councils, etc — Agriculture, fisheries and forestry - 35 Housing - 35 Local environmental services + 5 Law and order + 10 Arts — Education, etc + 5 Health and welfare - 20 Social security + 150 Financial administration + 10 Common services + 15 Other expenditure + 40 Contingency allowance —