§ 28. Mr. GarnierTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if he will make a statement on the cost of administration in his Department. [132617]
§ Mr. WillsThe planned net running cost of the Department in 2000–01 is £252 million. A further £3.25 million is available this year from the Windfall Tax for DfEE administration. These and comparable figures for past years are set out in Annexes Ei and Eii of the Departmental Report (Cm 4602). They illustrate our success in reducing the costs of administration while delivering the Government's radical programme of reform for education and employment. The planned DfEE running cost for 2000–01 (excluding Windfall Tax funding) is £15 million or 6 per cent. less than in 1996–97. This represents a reduction in real terms of 15 per cent.