§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, when the cash limits for 1977–78 are published he will also publish the original cash limits for 1976–77 and the outturn on each limit; whether he will account for the difference in each case between estimate and outturn; and whether he will publish regularly the estimates and outturn of expenditure covered by cash limits in Economic Trends or another regular publication.
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§ Mr. Joel BarnettI intend to publish provisional outturn figures for 1976–77 cash limits as soon as possible, but allowance must be made for normal lags in the Government's accounting arrangements and provisional figures for even voted expenditure will not be available in time to be published with the 1977–78 cash limits. It is certainly my intention that future cash limits and the outturn of expenditure within the cash limits system should be published. I have not yet decided where publication should be and I am grateful for the hon. Member's suggestion. Questions about individual limits should be addressed to the Minister responsible for the expenditure concerned.