§ Lord Simon of Glaisdaleasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why, since it is suggested (H. L. debate, 3rd June 1985, col. 600) that the formula "with the consent of the Treasury", or similar, is invariably included in legislation which confers a power or imposes a duty, which might require public expenditure, on a Minister of the Crown, time and expense have not been saved by making permanent provision to this effect in an Interpretation or Finance Act.
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Arts (The Earl of Gowrie)Reference in individual statutes to the need to obtain Treasury consent in specific situations serves a useful purpose in alerting departments and others to the Treasury's responsibilities, in particular for public expenditure. Although a permanent provision in, for example, the Interpretation Act would in theory achieve the same result, in practice mistakes occur and the provision would not necessarily be so effective. The time and expenditure involved in inserting the existing formula are minimal.