§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement concerning the planned extended coverage of staff and executive responsibility budgets.
§ Mr. ButlerStaff responsibility budgets, which were first introduced in the financial year 1984–85, now cover all United Kingdom-based civilians. The range of expenditure which figures in these budgetary arrangements has been extended to include travel and subsistence costs. In addition, staff responsibility budgets for service personnel in the support field were introduced on a trial basis at the beginning of this financial year, 1985–86. Initially they will cover some 60,000 personnel but the intention is to extend this coverage in the future. Executive responsibility budgets were introduced on 1 April 1985 following a two-year period of trials and pilot schemes. The implementation programme is spread over three years and covers some 300 units and establishments in the support field in the United Kingdom. The activities involved include supply, repair, medical services, the individual training of service personnel, and research and development. This form of budgetary system embraces all expenditure attributable to the units concerned.