HC Deb 19 June 1986 vol 99 cc625-7W
18. Mr. Conway

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain better value for money in public expenditure.

34. Sir Fergus Montgomery

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain better value for money from public expenditure.

54. Mr. William Powell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain better value for money from public expenditure.

56. Mr. Powley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain better value for money in public expenditure.

22. Mr. Galley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain better value for money in public expenditure.

23. Dr. Twinn

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has plans to increase the value for money obtained from existing levels of public expenditure.

24. Mr. Patrick Thompson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to obtain better value for money from public expenditure.

Mr. MacGregor

In the annual review of public spending we arc looking not just at the money spent but at what is being achieved with the money; we are using reviews and scrutinies to look in depth at particular areas; and Departments are improving their financial management. The last public expenditure White Paper listed over 1,200 output measures and performance indicators, which show the attention and priority we are giving to this critical aspect of public spending policy.

38. Mr. Portillo

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has about the proportion of gross domestic product taken by public expenditure in the United States of America and Japan; and what is the comparable figure for the United Kingdom.

Mr. MacGregor

International comparisons of public expenditure should be treated with caution because of differences in the composition of expenditure and in governmental organisation. Such comparisons are available only in terms of the OECD statistic "total outlays of Government". This definition is similar to that of general Government expenditure used in the public expenditure White Paper but excludes net lending, includes debt write-offs by general Government and makes adjustment for expenditure on sick pay and unfunded pension schemes. On this basis, the latest figures are:

Total outlays of government as percentage of GDP*
1981 1982 1983 1984
United Kingdom 47.8 47.3 47.3 48.0
United States of America 35.2 37.7 38.1 n/a
Japan 34.1 33.6 34.3 33.1
* At market prices.

Source: Table R8, OECD Economic Outlook, May 1986.

40. Mr. Leigh

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what means he uses to measure value for money obtained from public expenditure.

52. Mr. Marlow

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what means he uses to measure value for money obtained from public expenditure.

51. Mr. Neil Hamilton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the potential for increased value for money in public spending programmes.

Mr. MacGregor

I refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Stafford (Mr. Cash).

43. Mr. Robert B. Jones

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has any plans to improve audit arrangements in the public sector so as to indentify more fully opportunities for increasing value for money from public expenditure programmes.

Mr. MacGregor

My Department supports and follows up the Comptroller and Auditor General's value for money examinations under the National Audit Act 1983, and the work of the Audit Commission and the Monopolies and Mergers Commission in relation to local authorities and the nationalised industries respectively. In the field of internal audit, much has been done in recent years to improve its quality and ability to support management in getting better value for money. It is the purpose of the Treasury's internal audit development division to promote best practice in Government Departments and this work is continuing.

44. Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if there are any plans to increase public expenditure above the levels set out in the last public expenditure White Paper.

Mr. MacGregor

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Winnick).