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Finally, Lord Robert Cecil proposed that in order to reduce

expenditure and eradicate the abuses of large Supplementary Estimates a scheme should be introduced for rationing all the Departments. The principle should be that expenditure must be based upon the " capacity of the country to pay" without a drain upon capital resources. The capacity to pay would be determined by the Budget Committee. Under rationing each Department would be allowed a fixed sum for its year's work, and would be unable to exceed this amount in any way. Sub- Committees were appointed to draft definite schemes for rationing, decontrol, rates and procedure on the Estimates.

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