§ Mr. Rowlandsasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will list the specific departmental economies of £16 million announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 November.
§ Mr. HurdThe reduction of £16 million relates to all Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure programmes and includes £12 million in respect of aid expenditure — including aid administration. I do not expect that any existing aid commitments will be affected. The remainder will be found from other Foreign and Commonwealth Office expenditure, with the greater part falling on overseas representation and the diplomatic estate. There will be small reductions in the programmes for overseas information and other external relations. Planned expenditure in 1981–82 on the BBC External Services and the British Council will not be further reduced.