§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the changes in the planned figures for his Department's expenditure for 1989–90 and subsequent years in Cm. 607 from the plans for those years in Cm. 288; and for what reasons.
§ Mr. CopeThe plans for the years 1989–90 and 1990–91 in Cm. 607 show a decrease of £232 million and £340 million respectively from the plans in Cm. 288. This was mainly because the rapid growth in the economy and fall in unemployment allowed a decrease in planned expenditure on employment and training programmes.
§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what are the reasons for any differences between the 1988–89 public expenditure plans for his Department published in Cm. 288 and the latest 1988–89 estimated outturn; and how much of any increase is attributable to use of the Reserve.
§ Mr. CopeThe estimated outturn for 1988–89 is 22 per cent. lower than the 1988–89 public expenditure plans published in Cm. 288. This is due mainly to training volumes being lower than planned for adult and youth training because of the rapid growth of the economy and decrease in unemployment.
§ Mr. LeightonTo ask the Secretary of State for Employment what new commitments have been undertaken which will involve spending by his Department after 1991–92 since the publication of Cm. 288.
§ Mr. CopeSince the publication of Cm. 288 the Department has entered into the following new commitments which will involve spending in the years after 1991–92: Employment training, business growth training, training and enterprise councils, compacts, enterprise in higher education and Seville expo 92. In addition, as announced in theOfficial Report, 27 October 1988, column 318, from 1 April 1990 the Health and Safety Commission will take over the Department of Energy's responsibility for contracting research programmes related to the safety of established thermal nuclear power stations.