Cash Limits

HC Deb 01 August 1978 vol 955 cc245-6W

Mr. Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, following the recent reports by the Public Accounts Committee and the Expenditure Committee, he will now proceed with assimilating the Parliamentary Supply Estimates with the cash limits.

Mr. Joel Barnett

Yes. Following the endorsement by both Committees of the changes in the price basis and structure of Parliamentary Estimates described in the memorandum submitted to them by the Treasury, the Government propose to implement these changes as far as possible in the 1979–80 Estimates. For Votes for which the structural alignment with cash limits cannot be fully achieved in time for the 1979–80 Estimates, the aim will be to complete it in the estimates of the folowing year.