§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure was on the reserve forces in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) is projected for 1998–99 in the categories (i) man training days, (ii) ammunition, fuel and other training expenditure, 353W (iii) equipment, purchase and spares, (iv) full-time military personnel costs, (v) NRPS/PSA0 personnel costs, (vi) civilian personnel costs and (vii) buildings and building maintenance; and what was the expenditure in man training days by district command in the case of the TA. [8827]
§ Dr. ReidI will write to the hon. Member and a copy of my letter will be placed in the Library of the House.
§ Mr. BrazierTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what mechanism exists for checking whether money allocated to the reserve forces by Ministers is spent on the reserves by districts and their formation councils. [8826]
§ Dr. ReidResponsibility for expenditure on all defence operating costs, including those related to the Reserve Forces, is delegated to top level budget holders to enable them to achieve the objectives required of them. They in turn delegate funds and responsibility to levels at which the priorities for expenditure can best be assessed. A fundamental principle is that operational and financial responsibility should be linked, which means that commanders must have flexibility over how they spend money. They are best placed to judge where priority should be given, so that they meet the objectives they have been set. Whether they have achieved their objectives is assessed regularly by means of formal performance reviews.