§ Mr. MallonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what was the total Exchequer expenditure voted for Northern Ireland in each of the past five years; and what is the latest estimate of Exchequer spending over the next five years;
(2) if he will take steps to ensure that there is no reduction in the level of Exchequer expenditure, in real terms, in the incoming financial year;
(3) what Exchequer savings are expected to result from the recent end to violence; and what steps will be taken to ensure that such savings are invested in Northern Ireland.
§ Sir John WheelerThe total public expenditure in Northern Ireland in the past five years is given in the table below. My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his unified Budget Statement announced the public expenditure totals for Northern Ireland for 1995–96 to 1997–98 and these are also shown. My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland will shortly be making a statement on the allocation of those totals to individual programmes within Northern Ireland. Estimates for 1998–99 and 1999–2000 are not available.
772W
£ millions 1989–90 5,395 1990–91 5,525 1991–92 6,018 1992–93 6,580 1993–94 7,086 1994–95 7,492 1995–96 7,716 1996–97 17,880 1997–98 18,020 1 Rounded to the nearest £10 million. The Northern Ireland total is mainly the result of the application of the comparability principle which automatically adjusts the NI total in line with movements in comparable GB programmes in proportion to relative population. Full account has been taken of Northern Ireland's special needs in setting its overall public expenditure total.
The peace process is still at an early stage and it would not be helpful to speculate on the likely quantum of savings. In setting public expenditure totals for Northern Ireland full account will be taken of Northern Ireland's special needs.