asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will list those construction programmes in central and local government to which cash limits have been applied as stated in paragraph 45 of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation"; and if he will give the date on which the limits were introduced and state whether these limits remain firm;(2) if he will list those services financed by central Government funds to which cash limits have been applied as stated in paragraph 45 of the White Paper "The Attack on Inflation"; and if he will give the date on which the limits were introduced and state whether the original limits have remained firm.
The services presently subject to cash limits, and the dates when cash limits were introduced, are as follows:
| CONSTRUCTION (NEW WORK) PROGRAMMES SUBJECT TO CASH LIMITS | |
| Programme | Date of introduction of cash limits* |
| Defence works services | 1975–76 |
| Defence married quarters | 1975–76 |
| Civil accommodation (home and overseas) | 1974–75 |
| Prison buildings (including new dwellings) | 1974–75 |
| National Health Service capital expenditure | 1969 |
| University buildings | 1974–75 |
| Local authorities' locally determined sector (cash limit applies to borrowing, not expenditure) | 1975–76 |
| House improvements | 1975–76 |
| Local authorities' building for personal social services (Key sector) | 1971 |
| Local authorities' building for courts and police (Key sector) | 1974–75 |
| Local authorities' building for education (England and Wales) (Key sector) | 1974–75 |
| Local authorities' building for education (Scotland) (Key sector) | 1975–76 |
| OTHER SERVICES FINANCED BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SUBJECT TO CASH LIMITS | |
Programme
| Date of introduction of cash limits *
|
Defence
| |
| Grants in aid for welfare, museums etc. | |
| Payments to Government of Malta | 1972 |
Overseas Services
| |
| Overseas information | |
| Overseas aid | 1972–73 |
Other environmental services
| |
| Historic buildings and conservation areas | |
| Museums (excluding salaries), palaces etc. | 1975–76 |
Education
| |
| Universities recurrent expenditure (except academic salaries and local authority rates) | |
Arts
| |
| Libraries and museums—purchases | |
| Grants to Arts Council | |
| Film Institute and Film School | |
| Crafts | |
* Where no date is given, cash limits apply under long-standing arrangements. | |
As regards the construction new works programme listed above, the limits for 1975–76 have not been adjusted since they were set, except in the case of housing improvements. The limits for the other services have in the past sometimes been adjusted during the year; but the way in which cash limits are applied to these services is being reviewed in the light of the Government's policy as set out in Cmnd 6151.