Skip to main content

Financial Digest

Volume 450: debated on Thursday 26 October 2006

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will place in the Library copies of his Department's monthly Financial Digest for the first six months of 2005-06. (93054)

The term “Financial Digest” refers to previous procedures in the Department which have been updated as our financial management processes have been improved. Officials regularly produce forecasts of expected year-end financial outturn for senior management. These are reflected in the forecasts of Defence expenditure in the Main and Supplementary Estimates formally submitted for parliamentary consideration in the course of the year. Detailed in-year internal forecasts make an important contribution to the development of Government policy. I am withholding their publication as it would be prejudicial to the effective conduct of public affairs by inhibiting the free and frank provision of advice to senior management and Ministers, and any exchanges of views for the purpose of deliberation.