Treasury power over British defence procurement

When did the British Treasury gain so much influence over procurement, and how might that institutional problem be addressed?

The Treasury's rise as a competing center of power began around 1900; its accumulated control over spending, debt, tax policy, and departmental decisions makes reform difficult without strong statutory backing.

The Treasury's rise as a rival centre of government power is dated here to about 1900. Control of funding can prevent departments from carrying out announced policy. Ajax illustrates a difficult choice: further spending may look like throwing good money after bad, but refusing it can leave the army without a replacement if no alternative will be bought. Type 26 is another ongoing programme caught by the distinction between existing commitments and new spending, prompting the suggestion of a separately designated batch two. The Treasury's wider remit includes public debt, tax policy, and influence throughout government. Any proposed breakup would have to decide which functions require direct departmental control and which could be handled through regulation and enforcement. An Act of Parliament is suggested as a possible means of sustaining a reorganization against institutional resistance.