HM Treasury News Release  

190/98                              12 November 1998
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VOTE ON ACCOUNT 1999-00

A Vote on Account for #102,899 million 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 1999-00 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 #84 million) presented by Madam Speaker on
behalf of the House of Commons Commission, and for the National
Audit Office (#18 million) 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 1999-00, due to be
published in April 1999.


# = pounds sterling