Clause 9 - Expenditure
Regional Assemblies (Preparations) Bill
5:00 pm
Mr Philip Hammond (Runnymede and Weybridge, Conservative)
I am grateful to the Minister for that clarification. Given that, after Second Reading, Parliament was asked to approve a money resolution for the spending of money from the Consolidated Fund, I was slightly alarmed to hear the hon. Gentleman say that he does not really know how much money is involved. He knows part of the cost, but he does not have an idea of the quantum.
The former prudence with which the Chancellor approached the Government's monetary affairs serves only to emphasise how standards have slipped in the past year or so. We are now routinely asked—at 10.30 at night, on a rubber-stamp vote—to approve the spending of unquantified sums, which is alarming. The hon. Gentleman kindly offered to write to me. I will pre-empt that by writing to him with some questions. I would be grateful if he would be good enough to reply before the Bill is on Report.
Question put and agreed to.
Clause 9 ordered to stand part of the Bill.