§ Mr. Maplesasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the 1986–87 running cost limit for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments.
§ Mr. Tom KingThe 1986 Public Expenditure White Paper (Cmnd. 9702) set out at Table 3.18.49 the targeted provision for departmental running costs of the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and Northern Ireland Departments for the period from 1986–87 to 1988–89. Following final review of the projected expenditure requirements for 1986–87, which revealed higher prison costs than had been projected previously, and also taking account of the enterprise and employment measures announced at the 465W time of the Budget last month, I have decided to set a running costs limit of £446 million for the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Departments, £6 million higher than the target shown in Cmnd. 9702. Further details of provision for individual departments are set out in the appropriate Estimates volumes.