§ Mr. WatersonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocation to individual programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure totals announced on 26 November. [8648]
§ Sir Patrick MayhewIn his Budget Statement on 26 November, my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme. I have now decided on the allocations to individual programmes as shown in the following table. Copies of a more detailed statement have been placed in the Library. These allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure totals in response to local needs and circumstances.
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£ million Programme 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Northern Ireland Office Law, Order, Protective and Miscellaneous Services 934 920 930 Northern Ireland Departments Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Support 148 130 130 Industry, Trade, Energy and Employment 550 530 500 Roads and Transport 172 170 170 Housing 243 240 240
£ million Programme 1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000 Environmental and Miscellaneous Services 226 190 180 Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service) 44 40 40 Education, Arts and Libraries 1,376 1,380 1,400 Health and Personal Social Services 1,642 1,670 1,690 Social Security Administration 158 160 160 Other Public Services 59 60 60 NI Block (excluding Social Security Benefits) 5,553 5,500 5,500 Social Security Benefits 2,494 2,590 2,700 NI Block 8,046 8,090 8,190 National Agriculture and Fisheries Support 175 170 170 NI Programme 8,222 8,260 8,360 1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1 million in 1997–98 and to the nearest £10 million in 1998–99 and 1999–2000.
2. The figures for 1997–98 will form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office of Main Estimates for the coming year. These will be presented to Parliament in due course.
3. The Education and Block totals are reduced to reflect the NI share of proceeds from the proposed sale of student loans debt. This reduction does not affect Block spending power.
4. Allocations from the EU Peace and Reconciliation Programme are included in the figures above.