Departmental Expenditure Limit

HC Deb 06 December 2001 vol 376 cc506-7W

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what proportion of the increase in the departmental expenditure limit from 2001–02 to 2002–03 will be accounted for by wage costs. [20666]

Ms Rosie Winterton

The level of wage costs within departmental budgets this year and in future years will be dependent upon negotiations. Departmental reports published next spring will give full retrospective costs.