Public Expenditure (Hansard, 26 January 1984)

§ 3. Mr. Canavan
asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total annual level of public expenditure per head of population in Northern Ireland.

§ The Minister of State, Northern Ireland Office (Mr. Adam Butler)
Public expenditure per head in Northern Ireland is estimated at £2,437 for the current year. This excludes expenditure in Northern Ireland which falls outside the area of responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

§ Mr. Canavan
Although no one would grudge extra public expenditure on items such as helping the unemployed, in view of the higher incidence of unemployment in Northern Ireland, how much longer does the hon. Gentleman think the British taxpayer will tolerate a situation whereby public expenditure per head of population in Northern Ireland is far in excess of that in any other part of the United Kingdom? One of the reasons for that is that per head of population in Northern Ireland security costs alone are now approaching £100 per annum. How long will the Government keep propping up an unstable gerrymandered Province which should never have been founded in the first place?

§ Mr. Butler
The reasons for that high expenditure per head of population are social and economic, and certainly reflect the security situation. If the hon. Gentleman intends to ask United Kingdom citizens about their view of expenditure in disadvantaged regions, he should also ask them about Scotland. Expenditure per head in Northern Ireland is only one fifth higher than it is in Scotland.

§ Mr. Bill Walker
Does my hon. Friend agree that in the United Kingdom, where there are problems reflecting the security of our military establishments inevitably there will be increased costs and that, equally, the people who are camping outside the submarine bases in the Clyde will add to our costs?

§ Mr. Butler
My hon. Friend has made his point, and I am sure that the House has heard it.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell
Will the Minister consult his colleagues to see whether it is possible to give the corresponding figures for the constituency of the hon. Member for Falkirk, West (Mr. Canavan)?

§ Mr. Canavan
We do not want to kill each other in Falkirk, West.

Mr. J. Enoch Powell
But the hon. Gentleman's constituency gets the public money.

§ Mr. Butler
I cannot give the expenditure figures per head for the constituency of Falkirk, West, but I am glad that, although the unemployment level at 16 per cent. is high, it is considerably below the average in the Province.

§ Rev. William McCrea
The House must accept that expenditure in Northern Ireland is high because of the security problems, but does the Minister agree that people in Northern Ireland would be delighted if the massive expenditure on security were to be set aside by the annihilation of the IRA and the problem of our land?

§ Mr. Butler
I agree with the hon. Gentleman. There would be great cause for rejoicing if that happened. There would be equal cause for rejoicing if the other social and economic problems of the Province were brought down at least to the average in the United Kingdom, because the high expenditure per head would not then be necessary. At the moment that expenditure is necessary, and it will continue to be provided.