§ Mr. SymsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what the total underspend in her Department was on(a) capital and (b) non-capital expenditure in each financial year since May 1997. [34029]
§ Estelle Morris[holding answer 7 February 2002]: The split into capital and non-capital is shown in the table.
419W
£ million year Current underspend Capital underspend Total underspend 2000–01 343 1,111 1,454 1999–2000 129 699 828 1998–99 55 604 659 1997–98 25 335 360 The total underspends for 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01 are calculated against the departmental expenditure limits (including programmes funded from the windfall tax), whereas the underspend for 1997–98 is calculated against the old control total.
Since 1998–99 Departments have been allowed to carry forward any DEL budget provision that is not spent in one year into the following year. More limited end year flexibility applied before this date. The change in carry forward has enabled the Department to better manage its resources and the Secretary of State uses this mechanism to deploy resources under her control where they are most needed and to ensure spending is profiled to maximise value for money.