§ 21. Mr. Bruce-Gardyneasked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the final overspend on cash limits by his Department in the financial year 1980–81; and whether he intends to recoup this overspend wholly in the 1981–82 financial year.
§ Mr. NottThe outturn on the defence cash limits is not generally known until some time after the end of the financial year. This year the Civil Service dispute has caused added problems, for example, over processing receipts.
As I told my hon. Friend on 26 January, it is the general practice to offset any overspend against a cash limit by a corresponding deduction in the following financial year. The position will be reviewed when the final outturn is known.