§ Mr. McCabeTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to amend the Northern Ireland Departments' Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000. [115343]
§ Mr. IngramThe Northern Ireland Departments' Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 has been increased by £94,327,000 from £4,856,247,000 to £4,950,574,000. The increase is the net effect of:
- the take up of end-year flexibility entitlement of £98,341,000;
- net transfers to other Government Departments of £18,134,000 as detailed;
- an increase in the provision for Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances of £8,500,000;
- increases resulting from additions to "The Giving Age" and Health of £4,293,000;
- an increase in Housing Loan Charges of £1,147,000; and
- an increase in the Capital Modernisation Fund of £180,000.
There is also a decrease in the provision for Welfare to Work of £31,144,000.
The net transfers to other Government Departments are made up as follows:
- net transfers to the Northern Ireland Office of £8,144,000;
- a transfer to the Inland Revenue of £6,689,000;
- transfers to the Scottish Executive of £1,788,000;
- transfers to the Department of Health of £1,098,000;
- a transfer to the Department for Education and Employment of £653,000;
- transfers to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of £257,000;
- a transfer to the Privy Council Office of £10,000;
- a transfer from the Department of Trade and Industry of £500,000; and
- a transfer from the National Assembly for Wales of £5,000.
The net increase in the Northern Ireland Departments' Departmental Expenditure Limit is a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.