HC Deb 22 May 2003 vol 405 c1001W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what plans he has to reduce his Department's underspend in 2003–04 from that of 2002–03. [112781]

Mr. Charles Clarke

End Year Flexibility allows us to manage our resources better over a three year cycle and get the best value for public investment, It avoids the old rush to spend at the end of the year and allows us to take account of the difficulties of forecasting such things as capital expenditure.

Planned spending, including the planned use of End Year Flexibility, for the next three years is set out in my Departmental Annual Report published 14 May; Chapter 3, table 3.2 pages 25 and 26.