HC Deb 09 January 2002 vol 377 cc937-8W
Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001,Official Report, column 81W, on departmental underspend, if she will break down the main projects for which the unspent £1.44 billion available in end-year flexibility from the former Department for Education and Employment had been intended in financial year 2000–01. [22774]

Estelle Morris

The Department is voted funds for its programmes rather than individual projects. The End Year Flexibility (EYF) is therefore calculated on the total Departmental Expenditure Limit aggregates.

£715 million of the available EYF can, however, be analysed into a number of separate elements as follows: £220 million for the European Structural Funds, £106 million for the Employment Opportunities Fund, £87 million for the Capital Modernisation Fund, Non-Discretionary Other (primarily Student Loans) of £172 million, Ofsted £1 million and Sure Start £129 million.

The remaining £739 million of Discretionary Capital and Other (current) underspends can be analysed against the Departmental objectives as follows: against Objective 1: Early years and schools, were £441 million; Objective 2: Lifelong Learning, £233 million; Objective 3: Helping people without a job into work, £22 million; and on activities supporting all objectives, including administration costs, £43 million.

During 2001–02 this EYF has been and will be drawn on to fund additional expenditure on Departmental programmes. Following the machinery of government changes the EYF on European Structural Funds and the Employment Opportunities Fund transferred to the Department for Work and Pensions. Discussions are taking place with other Government Departments concerning the amount of Discretionary Other EYF required to support the services transferred.

Mr. Bercow

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, pursuant to her answer of 3 December 2001,Official Report, column 81W, on departmental underspend, on what specific purposes the remaining £530 million left from underspend in 2000–01 will be spent in the current financial year. [22776]

Estelle Morris

Of the £530 million, £129 million relates to Sure Start, £1 million to Ofsted, £172 million relates to non-discretionary other (primarily student loans) and £228 million to discretionary capital and other, including administration costs. The funds will be drawn down to support departmental programmes as required to meet priorities and pressures.