§ Mr. Greg Knightasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocations to programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure plans announced on 12 November.
§ Mr. Tom KingThe autumn statement laid before the House by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 12 November announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme as follows:
£ million 1987–88 4,810 1988–89 4,980 1989–90 5,150 The figure for 1987–88 represents an increase of some £230 million on the forecast outturn for 1986–87 and £120 million on the previously planned total for 1987–88 in the 1986 Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9702), adjusted for Budget measures. The figure for 1988–89 represents an increase of some £160 million on previously published plans. Because of minor adjustments which will not affect the spending plans of Departments the planned figure for 1989–90 now rounds to £5,140 million.
I have decided on the following cash allocations to individual programmes (rounded to the nearest £5 million for 1987–88 and to the nearest £10 million for 1988–89 and 1989–90. Figures may not sum to totals because of roundings).
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£ million Programme 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 Agriculture, fisheries, food and foresty 90 90 90 Industry, energy, trade and employment 445 420 400 Transport 130 130 130 Housing 365 380 380 Environmental and miscellaneous services 215 220 240 Protective Services 25 30 30 Education and science, arts and libraries 735 780 810 Health and personal social services 795 840 880 Social Security 1,445 1,520 1,570 Other public services 50 60 60 Total NI Departments 4,295 4,460 4,610
Programme 1987–88 1988–89 1989–90 NIO—Law, order, protective and miscellaneous services 515 520 540 Total Northern Ireland 4,810 4,980 5,140 The planning figures for 1987–88 will form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office of Main Estimates for the coming year, which 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 of the House of Commons.