§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reason there is a planned decrease in spending between 1994 and 1997 in(a) industry, energy, trade and employment, (b) transport and (c) environmental and miscellaneous services referred to in table 1.1 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97".
§ Sir John WheelerThe planned decreases in Northern Ireland public expenditure cash plans in these areas is accounted for mainly by the completion of the privatisation payments to Harland and Wolff and Shorts—industry, energy, trade and employment; the completion of the Belfast cross-harbour bridge—transport; and a rephasing of capital expenditure on water and sewerage—environmental and miscellaneous services.
§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what are the four construction projects428W on which £25 million will be spent on the police building programme, referred to in table 4.3 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97".
§ Sir John WheelerTable 4.3 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97" shows the Police Authority for Northern Ireland's plans, as at 31 March 1994, to take forward work, on construction projects valued at more than £50,000 each, costing a total of £25 million in the 1995–96 year.
At that date, these plans included four new projects—three replacement police stations and a further phase of a regional support centre—costing a total of £6 million, in the 1995–96 year. The remainder of the planned expenditure for that year is in respect of on-going projects started in previous years.
§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the meaning of the term DRC in section 1.5 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97"; and for what reasons it needed an increase of £13 million allocated to it in 1993–94.
§ Sir John WheelerThe term DRC stands for departmental running costs and is explained in paragraph 11.2 of the plans. The £13 million increase, relating to capital and DRC end-year flexibility carryover, was required in 1993–94 due to slippage in planned expenditure in 1992–93.
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§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will provide a breakdown of the £7 million allocated each year to community relations in the years 1994–95 to 1996–97, mentioned in section 1.4 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97".
§ Sir John WheelerThe resources available for community relations are directed at consolidating a range of major initiatives which are designed to increase cross-community contact and encourage greater mutual understanding and respect of different cultures and traditions. Since publication of the current edition of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97", I have announced on 6 December 1994, that the resources available will be increased.
Over the period 1994–95 to 1996–97 these resources will be allocated as follows:
1994–95£000 1995–96£000 1996–97£000 Central Community Relations Unit1 4,414 5,307 5,457 Department of Education for Northern Ireland2 2,638 3,133 3,333 Department of Finance and Personnel (Policy, Planning and Research Unit3) 250 300 305 Total 7,302 8,740 9,095 Notes:
1These resources will be directed to the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, district council community relations programme, community reconciliation bodies, cultural traditions programme and capital programme.
2The main elements of DENI's programme are the cross-community contact scheme, cultural traditions programme and voluntary reconciliation bodies.
3This will support an information, evaluation and research programme.
§ Ms MowlamTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons table 4.18 of "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97" does not contain projected expenditure on(a) the electoral service and (b) the state pathology service; and what was the actual expenditure on these services in 1994–95 and the projected expenditure in 1995–96 and 1996–97.
§ Sir John WheelerThe statistics relating to the electoral service and the state pathology service contained in "Northern Ireland Expenditure Plans and Priorities 1994–95 to 1996–97" have customarily, in common with a number of other statistical tables in the report, dealt only with historic information.
The information requested is as follows:
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£ thousands 1994–-95 (Estimated outturn) 1995–96 (Main estimates provision) 1996–97 (Planned expenditure) Electoral service 1,225 1,254 1,232 State pathology service 874 910 892