asked the Minister for Finance if he proposes to review the procedures in his Department controlling Government public expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

My Department's procedures for monitoring and controlling Government expenditure have proved effective in recent years as instanced by the fact that, in the past four years, total expenditures — current and capital — have been below or generally in line with budgetary targets. Accordingly, I do not see any need at present for a review of these procedures.