§ Mr. Tim SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what progress his Department is making with the introduction of resource accounting and budgeting; and in respect of which financial year he expects to publish the first set of resource accounts. [4981]
§ Mr. HoramThe Department of Health is currently enhancing its accounting system to meet the requirements of resource accounting by 1 April 1997. The Department, in common with others, is preparing to implement resource budgeting in time to form the basis for the 2000 survey. As set out in the White Paper "Better Accounting for the Taxpayer's Money: The Government's Proposals-Resource Accounting and Budgeting in Government," the first published resource accounts for the Department and other departments will be in respect of 1999–2000. Copies of the White Paper, Cm 2929, are available in the Library.