§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the public expenditure Contingency Reserve in cash terms together with the actual expenditure from the Reserve for each of the years 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82 and the latest figures for 1982–83.
§ Sir Geoffrey Howe[pursuant to his reply, 6 July 1982, c. 56]: The size of the Contingency Reserve, and the extent to which expenditure was, or—in the case of 1982–83—has so far been charged to it, is shown in the following table:
£ million 1979–80 1979 survey prices 1980–81 1980 survey prices 1981–82 cash 1982–83 cash Size of Contingency Reserve 880 1,160 2,500 2,400 Expenditure charged to the Contingency Reserve 796 955 1,145 * 388 * To date. The figures are given on the price basis which was used for control purposes in the year in question. Prior to 1981–82 the Reserve, and expenditure charged to it, were both measured in constant or "survey" prices rather than in cash.