HM Treasury News Release
141/97                                        18 November 1997
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                     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.