§ Mr. Kilfedderasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will consider the advantages of financing education and health expenditure by means of a quinquennial arrangement instead of by annual votes and appropriations.
§ Mr. AlisonThe principles which apply to the planning and financing of public expenditure in Northern Ireland will continue so far as possible in line with those which apply in the rest of the United Kingdom.
The system of financng public expenditure through the annual supply procedure has been examined from time to time, notably by the Plowden committee in 1961, which decided against recommending any changes to the present system—Control of Public Expenditure, Cmnd. 1432, 60W paragraphs 61–63. The Government's expenditure plans for the years 1981–82 to 1983–84, including plans for expenditure in Northern Ireland, are set out in the White Paper, Cmnd. 8175, which was presented to the House on 10 March 1981.