§ Mr. IngramTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, pursuant to his answer of 17 January,Official Report, column 356, what estimate he has made of the additional costs, net of any reduction in employer's national insurance contributions, to his departmental budget for the financial year 1994–95 resulting from the changes in statutory sick pay provision.
§ Mr. GoodladIn 1992–93 the Department of Social Security reimbursed the Foreign and Commonwealth office a sum of £167,586 in respect of statutory sick pay provision. The projected sum for 1994–95 is £148,089. The DSS have yet to advise what reduction is to be made to national insurance contributions. But it is clear that the overall cost to the FCO of the new arrangements will be relatively small and will be able to be absorbed within the Department's running costs.