§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he proposes to take to ensure that a rigid system of cost limitation applies to his Department, similar to that applicable in other areas of Government.
§ Mr. MasonThe Defence budget is already scrutinised, along with all other Department's programmes, in the annual Public Expenditure Surveys. Additionally, under the new system of cash control being applied to a large proportion of public expenditure, the overwhelming majority of Defence budget expenditure is subject to a cash limit in 1976–77. As explained in the White Paper on cash limits (Command 6440) the only major exclusion is expenditure on Service pensions.