§ Mr. Biffenasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the amount by which he plans to reduce expenditure for 1974–75 and in the balance of the current year as a result of the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December, indicating the main areas where such reductions will take place; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerIn 1974–75 we plan to reduce expenditure in each of the Departments for which I am responsible.
In the Civil Service Department there will be a reduction of £1.5 million on current expenditure on the central management of the Civil Service and computers and telecommunications. There will be a reduction of £6.7 million on capital expenditure again in the field of computers and telecommunications.
In the Central Office of Information it is planned to make a cut of £1.4 million against home publicity.
In Her Majesty's Stationery Office there will be a reduction of £1.9 million on capital mainly in the areas of office and printing works machinery and £3 million on procurement mainly in the purchase of stationery, printing and office supplies.
The saving which will be made in the remainder of 1973–74 as a consequence of action to reduce expenditure next year will depend to a large extent upon the precise way in which the 1974–75 reductions are arranged. I cannot at present give a figure for the reduction, if any, in spending this year which will arise on this account.