HC Deb 15 February 1984 vol 54 cc181-2W
Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the payments he has made to the Development Commission in each of the past five years and the amount he expects to pay to it in the current year.

Mr. Waldegrave

The total grant-in-aid to the development fund in each of the past five years was as follows:

£ million
1978–79 11.361
1979–80 16.126
1980–81 13.568
1981–82 9.098
1982–83 12.815

The equivalent estimated figure for 1983–84 —including grant to CoSIRA—is £19.065 million.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what guidelines he gives the Development Commission on the way it spends the public money it receives.

Mr. Waldegrave

The Secretary of State has issued general financial guidelines for the Development Commission's activities. They include specific guidelines for factory building. Details of the commission's activities are to be found in its annual reports which are laid before the House. Where appropriate, the general guidelines have been supplemented by specific guidelines for other activities.

Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of its income the Development Commission has spent in each of the past five years; and what proportion it estimates it will spend in the current year on (a) salaries, and so on, (b) travel and subsistence and (c) other administration.

Mr. Waldegrave

The proportion of total income of the development fund—including grant to CoSIRA—which has been spent on the commission's own operating expenses over the past five years is as follows:

Salaries per cent. T&S per cent. Other Admin. per cent.
1978–79 1.78 0.11 -0.90
1979–80 1.48 0.10 0.74

Salaries per cent. T&S per cent. Other Admin. per cent.
1980–81 2.19 0.12 0.69
1981–82 3.30 0.17 1.22
1982–83 2.67 0.16 1.14
1983–84* 2.21 0.16 1.18
* Estimated figures

Mr. Michael Forsyth

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of its income the Development Commission has spent in each of the past five years; and what amount he anticipates paying to it in the current year.

Mr. Waldegrave

The following table gives details of expenditure compared with the sum voted as the grant in aid to the development fund:

Grant Expenditure Percentage
£ £
1978–79 13,000,000 11,361,000 87.39
1979–80 16,126,000 16,126,000 100.00
1980–81 18,930,000 13,568,000 71.67
1981–82* 17,471,000 9,098,000 52.07
1982–83* 15,340,000 12,815,328 85.54
1983–84* 19,065,000 19,065,000 100.00
* Includes grant to the Council for Small Industries in Rural Areas.
† Estimated.