Mr. Wm Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount saved in the current financial year and the next two financial years in Northern Ireland as a result of the announcement on public expenditure of 22nd July 1976; and what percentage this is in each case of the original sums.
§ Mr. Mason,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 444], gave the following information:
No savings were made in the Northern Ireland public expenditure programme in the current financial year. The statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22nd July 1976 related to 1977–78 and following years; the savings in the Northern Ireland public expenditure programme amounted to £35 million and £9.5 million for 1977–78 and 1978–79 respectively and were 2.2 per cent. and 0.6 per cent. respectively of the pre-existing provision for public expenditure in Northern Ireland for these years.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the amount of cut-back in expenditure on education in Northern Ireland which arises as a result of the announcement on public expenditure of 22nd July 1976 expressed as a total sum and as a percentage of the original sums in the current financial year for the next two financial years;
(2) what is the amount of cut-back in expenditure on education in the Western area and in the Londonderry, Coleraine and Limavady council areas which arises as a result of the announcement of public expenditure of 22nd July 1976 expressed in each case as a total sum and as a percentage of the original sums in the current financial year and the next two financial years.
§ Mr. Carter,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 444–5], gave the following information:
The reductions in public expenditure announced on 22nd July 1976 include 543W £1.9 million for 1977–78 on Department of Education services throughout Northern Ireland; about 0.8 per cent. of the provision for that period. The reductions were made in the totals for Northern Ireland and before allocations were made to specific areas.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the effects of the public expenditure cuts announced on 22nd July 1976 on the housing programme in Northern Ireland for the next five years.
§ Mr. Carter,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 445], gave the following information:
The reductions in public expenditure announced on 22nd July 1976 include £4.7 million on housing expenditure in 1977–78. Present indications are that the expected level of expenditure by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in 1977–78 can be accommodated within the reduced financial provision.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has completed his assessment of the effects of the statement made by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22nd July 1976 on the economy of Northern Ireland and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mason,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 444], gave the following information:
The effect on the economy of the reductions in the Northern Ireland public expenditure programme following from the statement of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22nd July 1976, is expected to be slight. The net reduction in employment in 1977–78 arising from the savings is estimated to be less than 600. The consequences of the cuts have been discussed with the Confederation of British Industry and the Northern Ireland Committee of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the effects of the public expenditure cuts announced on 22nd July 1976 on the water and sewerage programme for the next five years in Northern Ireland; and 544W what is the total sum of the cut-back and as a percentage of the original sums.
§ Mr. Carter,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 445], gave the following information:
The reductions in public expenditure announced on 22nd July 1976 include £1 million on water and sewerage capital works for 1977–78. The cut-back represents about 1 per cent. of the original provision over the period 1976–1981.
Mr. Wm. Rossasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he has completed his assessment of the effects of the statement of 22nd July 1976 made by his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on public expenditure on the public works programme in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Mason,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th November 1976; Vol. 919, c. 444], gave the following information:
The reductions in expenditure on the Northern Ireland public works programme which have been made as a result of the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 22nd July 1976 relate to the financial year 1977–78 and amount to £11 million, representing a reduction of about 6 per cent. in the original provision. The Northern Ireland Construction Industry Advisory Council has been advised of the situation.