HC Deb 07 May 1982 vol 23 c145W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what ways the new system of planning public expenditure in cash differs from the system in operation before the public expenditure survey was introduced.

Mr. Brittan

There was no comprehensive system of planning public expenditure before annual public expenditure surveys were introduced in 1961. Expenditure decisions were taken piecemeal. Only in a few cases were multi-year projections of expenditure made, and there was therefore little planning of future commitments. Cash planning retains the advantages of medium term planning, but also takes account of the availability of finance.