§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what money was transmitted from the Consolidated Fund or National Loans Fund or other source originally to put in funds the suspense account used by the Foreign Office to make interest-free loans to members of the Diplomatic Service to buy cars; on what date; what further credits, other than repayment of car loans, have been made to the account since that date; from which sources; on what dates; and what parliamentary authorisation has been obtained for such credits.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonIssues are made by the Treasury each year to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from the Consolidated Fund for Supply Services voted by Parliament as stated in Estimates presented by the Treasury. In addition, repayable advances are made from the
594Wpublish in the Official Report the median income of council tenants expressed as a ratio of median income of owner occupiers for households with one, two and four children for each year since 1970;
(2) if he will publish in the Official Report the lowest decile income of council tenants expresed as a ratio of the lowest decile income of owner occupiers for households with one, two and four children for each year since 1970.
§ Mr. GoldingI have been asked to reply.
The following table contains the information requested for the years 1972 to 1975. Information for 1970, 1971 and 1976 is not readily available.
Contingencies Fund when voted funds are insufficient. The detailed administration of all these funds is a matter for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office within the provisions of the Exchequer and Audit Department Acts, and may include the funding of any suspense accounts necessarily maintained by that department. The precise timing and amount of any transactions on these accounts is not a matter for the Treasury.