§ Mr. LetwinTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 which he announced in the House on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 331. [176513]
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§ Mr. BoatengHM Treasury's Spending Review 2004 settlement, agreed at the time of the Budget, fixes the Department's administration budget in cash terms at the 2005–06 level through to 2007–08. At forecast rates of inflation, that represents a real terms reduction of more than 5 per cent. There will be further announcements in the Spending Review.