§ Mr. George RobertsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what was his Department's net expenditure on administration in each financial year since 1979–80(a) in cash terms and (b) adjusted for inflation. [6160]
§ Mr. Michael Forsyth[holding answer 14 December 1995]: The Scottish Office accounts for its running costs on a gross rather than net basis. The figures for the Scottish Office, excluding Scottish Prison Service, are as follows:
£million Year Cash 1995–96 prices 1995–96 188.3 188.3 1994–95 185.9 191.0 1993–94 188.3 197.1 1992–93 190.4 205.1 1991–92 175.1 196.3 1990–91 153.1 182.4 1989–90 142.0 182.7 1988–89 115.9 159.5 1987–88 109.3 160.5 1986–87 105.2 162.7 1985–86 100.8 160.6 1984–85 95.0 159.7 1983–84 92.0 162.4 1982–83 77.0 142.2 1981–82 74.0 146.4 1980–81 71.0 154.1 1979–80 58.0 148.9 Figures for early years are not comparable to recent figures owing to the introduction of superannuation charges of approximately 13 per cent., which have been taken into account from 1989–90 onwards, the introduction of charges for the occupation of Government offices in 1983–84—which now amount to some £25 million—and various shifts of responsibility from UK Departments to the Scottish Office. The total effect of these changes in accounting practice have increased the figures over the period by an amount estimated in 1995–96 to be approximately £40 million per annum.