§ Mr. Michael Forsythasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the statutory powers under which he is authorised to make payments of any kind to non-Government bodies, including individuals, the total amount paid under each such statutory power in 1982–83 and the number of staff involved in making such payments.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI regret that this information cannot be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.
However, a number of miscellaneous payments from the Consolidated Fund are recorded in the supplementary statements to the Consolidated Fund and National Loans Fund accounts each year under the provisions of section 21(3) of the National Loans Act 1968, including the appropriate statutory authorities—HC 93 of 14 December 1982, pp 16 to 21. These supplementary statements also record certain contingent liabilities under statutes, including those to non-Government bodies and individuals—HC 93 of 14 December 1982 pp 53 to 57. Grants paid by the Treasury out of moneys voted by Parliament are shown in the estimate for economic and 296W financial administration—HM Treasury: Class XIII, Vote 4 see HC 237 of 15 March 1983. Unless otherwise stated, the authority for these grants is the annual Appropriation Act.