Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what proportion of expenditure in the last financial year has taken place in each month in each Northern Ireland Department; what percentage variations occur between months; and what is Her Majesty's Government's policy in relation to surges in expenditure so as to avoid departmental underspends at the end of the financial year. [21787]
§ Sir John WheelerThe information requested is given in the following tables and excludes the following departmental expenditure.
317WEducation—Teachers superannuation expenditure.Economic Development—Privatisation of the electricity supply industry in Northern Ireland. A total of £190,189,000 was received during the year from the second payment in respect of the sales of shares. This sum less expenses of £3,444,000 was paid over to the Uk Consolidated Fund.Finance and Personnel—£6 million payment made in March 1995 in respect of advance funding of early departure costs.Departments should keep within annual budgets and decisions on spending should have regard to achieving the best possible value for money. Departments may carry
Departmental expenditure Per cent. Finance and Personnel Environment Economic Development Agriculture Month Proportion of expenditure Variations Proportion of expenditure Variations Proportion of expenditure Variations Proportion of expenditure Variations April 1994 7.59 — 5.5 — 6.7 — 5.2 — May 1994 7.52 -0.84 6.5 +17.4 7.4 +8.7 7.1 +34.7 June 1994 6.67 -11.26 6.6 +1.8 8.5 +16.4 12.7 +79.7 July 1994 7.10 +6.40 5.1 -22.8 7.3 -14.2 6.3 -50.6 August 1994 7.34 +3.39 6.5 +27.4 8.1 +10.4 10.2 +63.4 September 1994 6.89 -6.18 13.3 +104.6 8.4 +3.9 5.4 -47.8 October 1994 6.57 -4.68 5.6 -58.0 7.4 -11.8 4.4 -17.0 November 1994 7.11 +8.20 6.7 +20.9 8.1 +9.9 15.2 +243.2 December 1994 7.51 +5.64 6.8 +0.4 8.9 +10.1 10.3 -32.7 January 1995 10.28 +36.89 4.8 -28.3 8.6 -3.2 5.2 -49.0 February 1995 13.94 +35.67 13.4 +175.3 7.2 -16.5 8.1 +55.8 March 1995 11.48 -17.62 19.2 +43.6 13.4 +86.3 9.9 +21.2
Departmental expenditure Per cent. Education Health and Social Services Nothern Ireland Office Month Proportion of expenditure Variations Proportion of expenditure Variations Proportion of expenditure Variations April 1994 8.1 — 4.64 — 7.43 — May 1994 7.9 -2.5 7.31 +57.8 8.84 +19.02 June 1994 8.8 +11.4 7.65 +4.7 8.08 -8.53 July 1994 7.2 -18.2 7.62 -0.5 8.13 +0.55 August 1994 7.1 -1.4 7.47 -2.0 7.18 -11.71 September 1994 7.9 +11.3 8.88 +18.9 8.72 +21.48 October 1994 8.6 +8.9 7.61 -14.3 7.55 -13.37 November 1994 8.4 -2.3 7.75 +2.0 8.41 +11.39 December 1994 8.2 -2.4 8.44 +8.7 7.49 -11.00 January 1995 7.9 -3.7 8.77 +4.0 7.91 +5.64 February 1995 8.7 +10.1 8.59 -2.0 8.40 +6.20 March 1995 11.2 +28.7 115.26 +26.6 11.86 +41.12 1 Including prior year payments.