§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what financial steps his Department has taken to prepare for the(a) setting up and (b) running costs of the proposed Assets Recovery Agency. [22136]
§ Mr. Bob Ainsworth[holding answer 10 December 2001]: As I explained in my answer to the hon. Member for Buckingham (Mr. Bercow) on 4 December 2001, Official Report, column 230W, it is currently estimated that the agency will cost £3 million to set up and that its running costs will be £13 million per annum. These estimates are subject to revision as planning for the agency proceeds. Sufficient provision was made in the Spending Review in 2000 to cover the costs of the agency and related expenditure.