§ Mr. Lilleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to publish as soon as feasible after the end of the financial year a supplement to his Financial Statement incorporating the initial outturn figures for 1983–84 to replace the estimates used in the Financial Statement itself.
§ Mr. Peter ReesA large range of economic statistics are shown in the Financial Statement and the timeliness of
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Gross Running Costs—1982–83 Estimales Provision Wages and Salaries Personnel Overheads Accommodation Costs Office Services Other Services Total Running Costs Department £ million Percentage of total Running Costs £ million Percentage of total Running Costs £ million Percentage of total Running Costs £ million Percentage of total Running Costs £ million Percentage of total Running Costs £ million Ministry of Defence (including Aimed Forces) 5,766.4 70.1 593.0 7.2 1,514.0 18.4 185.6 2.3 164.4 2.0 8,223.4 Foreign and Commonwealth Office 186.3 54.6 28.8 8.4 75.4 22.1 26.0 7.6 24.7 7.3 341.2 Overseas Development Administration 23.4 56.0 2.0 4.8 6.8 16.3 3.9 9.3 5.7 13.6 41.8 Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 132.0 69.2 13.0 6.8 29.7 15.6 14.2 7.4 1.8 0.9 190.7 Department of Industry 87.6 64.8 5.0 3.7 23.3 17.2 13.7 10.1 5.5 4.1 135.1 Department of Energy 15.4 53.7 1.3 4.2 5.5 19.2 2.9 10.1 3.6 12.5 28.7 Department of Trade 77.0 47.5 4.5 2.8 39.7 24.5 13.8 8.5 27.0 16.7 162.0 Department of Employment 244.8 76.5 8.2 2.6 35.9 11.2 25.9 8.1 5.4 1.7 320.2 Manpower Services Commission 207.8 63.1 12.0 3.6 62.4 18.9 39.3 12.0 7.9 2.4 329.4 Department of Transport 116.6 52.2 6.8 3.0 25.9 11.6 26.1 11.7 48.0 21.5 223.4 outturn figures varies widely. Some, such as borrowing requirements, are available about two weeks after the end of the year. For others there is a delay of several months. Outturn figures are published by press notice and in statistical publications such as Economic Trends and Financial Statistics as they become available. The autumn statement takes into account outturn figures for the previous financial year.
I am satisfied these arrangements are generally adequate and there is no requirement for a special supplement to the Financial Statement. However, I have asked for Financial Statistics outturn data on public sector transactions to be brought more closely into line with the format used in the Financial Statement.