§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Employment 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. WhitelawAs a result of the statement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th December I plan to reduce capital expenditure by £2.2 million and current expenditure by £1.6 million in 1974–75. I am still considering how the particular programmes of my Department will be affected. Any savings which will be made in the remainder of 1973–74 will depend to a large extent upon the way in which the 1974–75 reductions are applied.