§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the allocation to individual programmes in Northern Ireland of the public expenditure totals announced on 1 November.
§ Mr. Tom KingThe autumn statement by my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on 1 November announced total public expenditure planning figures for the Northern Ireland programme as follows:
Year £ million 1989–90 5,468 1990–91 5,690 1991–92 5,910 Excluding social security benefits and national agriculture and fishery support, the allocation for 1989–90 represents an increase of some £219 million or 6 per cent. on the forecast out-turn for 1988–89. However when account is taken of resources released through a reduction in the NI Housing Executive's outstanding debt, the cash available for services in 1989–90 will be 7.4 per cent. higher than in 1988–89.
I have decided on the following allocations to individual programmes:
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Programme 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 Northern Ireland Office: Law, Order, Protective and Miscellaneous Services 627 670 710
Programme 1989–90 1990–91 1991–92 Northern Ireland Departments: Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Services and Support 111 110 110 Industry, Trade and Employment 426 430 430 Energy -50 -50 -80 Transport 157 160 160 Housing 257 240 250 Environmental and Miscellaneous Services 284 300 300 Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service) 29 30 30 Education and Science, Arts and Libraries 930 960 1,000 Health and Personal Social Services 940 980 1,020 Social Security Administration 103 110 110 Other Public Services 63 60 70 Total Northern Ireland Block (excluding Social Security Benefits) 3,880 4,000 4,120 Social Security Benefits 1,514 1,630 1,730 Total Northern Ireland Block 5,394 5,620 5,840 National Agriculture and Fishery Support 74 70 70 Total Northern Ireland Programme 5,468 5,690 5,910 Notes:
1. Figures are rounded to the nearest £1 million for 1989–90 and to the nearest £10 million for 1990–91 and 1991–92. Figures may not sum to totals because of roundings.
2. The figures for the energy programme are negative because it is anticipated that in the years concerned NIE will be repaying loans to Government.
3. The plans for the housing programme reflect the intention to reduce Northern Ireland Housing Executive's outstanding debt, subject to parliamentary approval of a forthcoming financial provisions order.
The planning figures for 1989–90 will form the basis for preparation by Northern Ireland Departments and the Northern Ireland Office of main estimates for the coming year. These will be presented to Parliament in due course.
The allocations reflect my assessment of how best to distribute the Northern Ireland public expenditure totals 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.