HC Deb 14 June 2004 vol 422 c774W
Mr. Oliver Letwin

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what progress has been made towards the 5 per cent. reduction in real terms in his Department's administration budget by 2008 announced by the Chancellor in the House on 17 March 2004,Official Report, column 331. [176500]

Mr. Charles Clarke

The real terms reduction of 5 per cent. or more will be a central feature of the public spending settlements for 2006–08 to be announced in detail later this year. Within the overall settlement for education announced in the Budget, the administration costs of the DfES will be reduced by more than 5 per cent. in real terms over the spending review period.