HC Deb 19 December 2002 vol 396 cc912-3W
Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2002,Official Report, column 29WS, whether the Scotland Office is running a budget surplus in the current financial year. [85194]

Mrs. Liddell

I expect Scotland Office expenditure to be contained within the Department Expenditure Limit in the current financial year.

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland, pursuant to her Written Ministerial Statement of 27 November 2002,Official Report, column 29WS, what factors account for the increase in the Scotland Departmental Expenditure Limit arising from the take-up of the End Year Flexibility. [85195]

Mrs. Liddell

The increase in the Scotland Departmental Expenditure Limit is required to meet planned expenditure by the Scottish Executive and the Boundary Commission for Scotland, and to enable the Scotland Office to move towards its full staffing level.