§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will list the amount by which he plans to reduce expenditure for 1974–75 and in the balance of the current year as a result of the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December, indicating the main areas where such reductions will take place; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir J. EdenThe areas in which I plan to reduce expenditure in 1974–75 are: the Post Office, by £138.2 million; the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Broadcasting Authority, by £3.5 million.
The saving which will be made in the remainder of 1973–74 as a consequence of action to reduce expenditure next year will depend to a large extent upon the precise way in which the 1974–75 reductions are arranged. I cannot at present give a figure for the reduction in spending this year which will arise on this account.