§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the implications for Northern Ireland public expenditure programmes of the announcement made by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 November.
§ Mr. HurdThe autumn statement laid before the House by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 12 November, at column 415, contained a total public expenditure planning total for the Northern Ireland programme of £4,240 million for 1985–86. Because of subsequent technical adjustments the figure now stands at £4,253 million, which is an increase of some £195 million on the forecast outturn for 1984–85 and £30 million on the previously planned total for 1985–86 which underlay the 1984 public expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9143). As indicated in my right hon. Friend's statement, the figures will continue to be subject to further technical adjustments before publication in the 1985 public expenditure White Paper.
I have decided on the following cash allocations to individual programmes (rounded to the nearest £5 million):
1985–86 £ million Agriculture, Fisheries, Food and Forestry 85 Trade, Industry, Energy and Employment 425 Transport 120 Housing 360 Other Environmental Services 165 Law, Order and Protective Services 440 Education, Libraries, Science and Arts 615 Health and Personal Social Services 700 Social Security 1,275 Other Public and Common Services 70 Total 4,255 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 allocation to services for which each Department is responsible and will be presented to Parliament in due course.
The allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure total in response to local needs and circumstances. Copies of a more detailed statement on these allocations have been placed in the Library.