§ Mr. Spearingasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what cash limit was set for his Department for the year 1976–77; what was the actual underspending or overspending and its percentage of the cash limit; and what further reductions in expenditure are planned for 1977–78.
§ Mr. EnnalsI assume my hon. Friend is referring to the cash limit applied to my Department's administration expenditure, Cash Block 1. The limit for 1976–77 was £481.8 million and expenditure526W incurred £463.8 million, an underspending of £18 million or 3.7 per cent. of the cash limit. The cash limit for 1977–78 of £530 million takes into account a reduction of some £8 million on administration costs which is required of my Department in the current financial year.