§ Mr. Robert Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the current cost indicator index level on which the cash limit is based for local government or Health Service expenditure; if he will give the figure at the beginning of the financial year; and if he will give an undertaking to publish the index or indices monthly.
§ Mr. BiffenThe provision for cost increases on current expenditure between 1979–80 and 1980–81 contained in the 1980–81 cash limits was published in "Supply Estimates 1980–81". This provision was not linked to any specific price index. In his Budget Statement my right hon. and learned Friend said that inflation may be a point or two higher than the provision on which Estimates are based.