HC Deb 19 November 1981 vol 13 c186W
6. Sir David Price

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has given to information officers in his Department for the handling of press inquiries about expenditure decisions which have not at the time been announced to Parliament.

Mr. Brittan

Until Cabinet decisions on public expenditure are announced to Parliament, information officers in the Treasury have been instructed to treat press reports about those decisions as speculation which can neither be confirmed or denied.