141/97
18 November 1997
VOTE ON ACCOUNT 1998-99
A Vote on Account for 97,248 million Pounds for Government Departments was presented to the House of Commons today.
The purpose of the Vote on Account is to provide funds for existing services to continue during the period from the start of the new financial year on 1 April until Parliament has approved the 1998-99 Main Estimates, which will be given legislative force in the Appropriation Act (usually passed in late July).
In addition, there are separate Votes on Account for the House of Commons (for 89 million Pounds) presented by Madam Speaker on behalf of the House of Commons Commission, and for the National Audit Office (17 million Pounds) presented by the Chairman of the Public Accounts Commission.
The amount sought in a Vote on Account is generally based on a standard proportion (45 per cent) of the amount voted so far for the corresponding services in the current financial year. It does not therefore indicate the expected level of expenditure in the following year. Provision for next year's expenditure will be contained in the Main Estimates for 1998-99, due to be published in March 1998.
Press Notices 1997 July to December Index