§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he has made to departmental expenditure ceilings within the controlled total for(a) 1997–98 and (b) 1998–99 since the budget. [13186]
§ Mr. Darling[holding answer 30 October 1997]: The 1997–98 Summer Supplementary Estimates reallocated £65 million within the public expenditure control total. Of this £13 million was met from within existing departmental programmes and £52 million charged to the Reserve. In addition, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced on 14 October that £300 million would be reallocated to the NHS for patient services in 1997–98; £30 million of this would be offset by administrative savings in the health budget, £102 million from reductions in the external financing limit for BNFL and £168 million from a reduction in the MOD cash limit.
For 1998–99 the departmental expenditure ceilings within the control total remain as at the July Budget.