§ Mr. Needhamasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the implications for Northern Ireland expenditure programmes of the announcement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8 November.
§ Mr. PriorThe statement made by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8 November 1982 announced a total public expenditure planning total for the Northern Ireland programme of £3,822 million for 1983–84. Because of subsequent minor technical adjustment this now stands at £3,827 million, which is an increase of some £50 million on the previously planned total underlying the last public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 8494). As indicated in the November statement, the figures will continue to be subject to further, technical adjustments before publication in the 1983 public expenditure White Paper. I have decided on the following cash allocations to individual programmes within the overall Northern Ireland planning total—rounded to the nearest £5 million:
1983–84 £ million Agriculture 75 Industry, energy, trade and employment 405 Transport 120 Housing 330 Other environmental services 160 Law, order and protective services 400 Education, libraries and arts 565 Health and personal social services 630 Social security 1,085 Other public services 25 Common services 30 3,825 These planning figures will form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office of main Estimates for the coming year. These will provide for the detailed allocations to services for which each Department is responsible and will be presented to Parliament in due course. The proposals reflect my assessment of how best to allocate the Northern Ireland public expenditure total in response to local needs and circumstances.