§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Parliamentary Secretary, Lord Chancellor's Department what assessment she has made of the reasons for the difference between the final voted departmental expenditure limit and provisional outturn for financial year 2000–01, as listed in the Treasury document, Public Expenditure 2000–01: Provisional Outturn, for Vote V, Lord Chancellor's and Law Officers' Departments, subcategories(a) 1 Lord Chancellor's Department and (b) 6 HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor; and if she will make a statement. [24116]
§ Ms Rosie Winterton(a) An analysis of significant discrepancies between the final voted departmental expenditure limit and the actual outturn will be published shortly in the Department's Resource Account.
(b) I understand from my right hon. and learned Friend the Solicitor-General that the difference between the final voted departmental expenditure limit for Vote V Class 6: 395W HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor and the provisional outturn shown in the Treasury document, Public Expenditure 2000–01: Provisional Outturn results from Appropriations in Aid which were higher than the sum originally estimated. This followed improvements in debt recovery processes in the Treasury Solicitor's Department which resulted in speedier payment of bills for legal services provided to client Departments.