§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008, announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 331. [176505]
§ Mr. IngramThe Ministry of Defence has a vigorous programme in place to drive down overheads and release resources to the front line. The real terms reduction in administration costs of 5 per cent. or more (against a 2005–06 baseline) will be a central feature of all Departments' public spending settlements to be announced in detail later this year.