§ Mr. Hattersleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will define the "national cash limit" specified in Department of Education and Science Circular 15/73;
290W(2) if she will specify the size and extent of the "national cash limit" referred to in paragraph 6 of the Department of Education and Science Circular 15/73;
(3) if she will undertake that inflation in the building industry will not result in approved work under the general needs capital programme being postponed be cause it exceeds the total "national cash limit" specified in Department of Education and Science Circular 15/73.
§ Mr. RaisonThe national cash limit will be a sum representing the total starts value of projects eligible for approval up to 30th June 1974. The value of projects approved by the Department will be contained within this total. Its size will be determined with reference to tender levels judged to be reasonable as the measures initiated by the Government take effect and as the economic situation develops. It will not allow for price rises at the very high rate obtaining before the deferment of programmes announced on 8th October 1973, nor would individual tenders showing price increases on this scale be approved. With that qualification, the national cash limit will cover the value of projects now being notified to LEAs as eligible for approval in the period up to 30th June 1974.