asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the Report of the Plowden Committee on methods of control of Government expenditure.

My right hon. and learned Friend has now received from the Plowden Committee a Report consolidating the views of the Committee over the whole range of its work, and he intends to publish it.

Does my hon. Friend realise that that is an entirely welcome and wholly satisfactory reply? It is very nice to be able to say such a thing in a supplementary question to the Treasury. Will he tell his right hon. and learned Friend that any other decision would completely frustrate and make a complete mockery of Parliamentary control of Government expenditure?

I am sure that my right hon. and learned Friend will be glad when he reads that supplementary question. I hope with some confidence that my hon. Friend will find the Report, when it is published, extremely interesting and rewarding reading.