§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a breakdown of the increase in his Department's expenditure on administration from £68 million in the year 1988–89 to a planned £98 million in the year 1991–92, as stated in table 11.1 of the Department of Education and Science's departmental report, -The Government's Expenditure Plans 1991–92 to 1993–94".
§ Mr. AtkinsThe plans as shown provide for a real-term increase of some 18 per cent. in administration costs between 1988–89 and 1991–92. Of that, more than one third is taken up by increased accommodation costs, principally in relation to our new London headquarters. Over the same period, the Department's staff numbers have increased by some 5 per cent. in response to implementation of the Education Reform Act 1988 and other new Government policies: in addition the Department has taken on responsibility for sport and recreation, which transferred from the Department of Environment with effect from December 1990.