Member

We should not seek to do this on the cheap. Nor should we place an unrealistic burden on charitable donors. We know that many people from all parts of the country and all backgrounds will wish to make some contribution to the memorial. However, as it is a national memorial, it is right that the bulk of the cost should be borne by public expenditure. The allocation of a budget and the oversight of expenditure for this programme will be part of the normal arrangements for settling departmental budgets, subject to the normal scrutiny by Parliament and the National Audit Office. There is no need to seek additional statutory controls, so I ask the noble Viscount to kindly withdraw his amendment.