§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the manpower and running costs of the Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office in 1986–87.
306W
§ Mr. Tom KingI have reviewed the manpower and running cost requirements for Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office for 1986–87 and I have decided that the manpower target for the NI Departments should be increased from 24,900 to 25,510. The increase reflects, inter alia, needs in the social securtiy field; developments in information technology in NI Departments; the employment measures announced at the time of the Budget; and increased work loads in land registry, vehicle licensing and water leakage control. Taking account of these changes to manpower targets, I have also decided to increase the departmental running cost limit for Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office from £446 million to £446.9 million. The additional running costs will be offset by savings elsewhere in the Northern Ireland block and thus will not lead to any increase in public expenditure.