Government Departments (Expenditure)

HC Deb 13 July 1993 vol 228 cc458-9W

Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost of placing in the House of Commons Library each year for the inspection of hon. Members a microfiche copy of a computer printout of each Government Department's expenditure analysed(a) by account code and (b) by item charged.

Mr. Portillo

Information on which to base such costings is not held centrally, and could not be assembled without disproportionate cost. The detailed management of operational accounts is a matter for individual Departments.