§ Mr. BellinghamTo 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 8 November.
£ million Programme 1991–92 1992–93 1993–94 Northern Ireland Office: Law, Order Protective and Miscellaneous Services 762 810 860 Northern Ireland Departments: Northern Ireland Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Services and Support 116 120 120 Industry Trade and Employment 466 430 420 Energy -72 0 0 Transport 165 170 180 Housing 259 270 270 Environmental and Miscellaneous Services 167 200 210 Law, Order and Protective Services (Fire Service) 35 40 40 Education 1,120 1,180 1,230 Health and Personal Social Services 1,160 1,220 1,270 Social Security Administration 128 140 130 Other Public Services 70 80 80 Total Northern Ireland Block (excluding Social Security Benefits) 4,377 4,650 4,820 Social Security Benefits 1,960 2,120 2,270 Total Northern Ireland Block 6,337 6,770 7,090 National Agriculture and Fishery Support 85 90 90 Total Northern Ireland Programme 6,422 6,860 7,170 Notes to Table:
(1) Figures are rounded to nearest £1m for 1991–92 and to the nearest £10m for 1992–93 and 1993–94 (thus "£0m" means "less than £5m"). Figures may not sum to totals due to roundings.
(2) As announced in 8 November, the plans reflect the reclassification of the water and sewerage element of the Regional Rate as negative PE. Allowing for this technical change, the overall level of resources represented by the public expenditure plans overall, and the Environmental and Miscellaneous Services programme in particular, are effectively some £110m a year higher than the figures in the table.
(3) The figure for the Energy programme for 1991–92 is negative because it is anticipated NIE will be repaying loans to Government in that year. The PE plans for the Energy Programme for 1992–93 and 1993–94 have been adjusted to reflect Government's intention that NIE should be privatised early in 1992. This produces total plans for NI for those years which are some £120m higher than would otherwise be the case.
(4) Figures for social security administration also include district councils' share of rate rebates.
(5) The figures are now net of VAT refunds to the Government of Northern Ireland: this is a classification change which does not affect the spending power of departments nor the year on year comparisons.
(6) The planning figures for 1991–92 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.