§ 25. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Defence which blocks of expenditure within his Department breached its cash limits in 1979–80 and why; and what steps he has taken to prevent a repetition in 1980–81.
§ Mr. PymBy convention cash limited Defence expenditure is controlled as a single aggregate block within which shares are allocated to Votes 1, 2, 4 and 5. I expect the outturn on Votes 2 and 4 to 581W exceed the provision as amended by the Winter Supplementaries, but to be within provision as revised in the spring Supplementary Estimates. The main reasons for the increase in spring supplementary provision on these Votes are faster progress and billing by contractors and non-availability of receipts. Every effort is being made to match programmes to cash limits in 1980–81.