"New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans"

HC Deb 17 December 1996 vol 287 cc491-2W

Mr. Derek Foster

To ask the Secretary of State for National Heritage what costs quoted in the document, "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans", were prepared in his Department; what detailed assumptions and interpretations were provided to officials in his Department to enable preparation of each cost; and what was the total cost to public funds of preparing each estimate. [6344]

Mrs. Virginia Bottomley

The Department of National Heritage, in conjunction with the Treasury, prepared factual material relating to costings published in "New Labour's Public Expenditure Plans" numbered 54 and 55. The detailed assumptions and interpretations that were provided to officials are set out in my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary's reply to the hon. Member of today. It is not the normal working practice to keep a record of the time spent in providing factual information to Ministers.