§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 had been spent by 31 May; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if he will make a statement. [61012]
§ Beverley HughesThe information requested is provided in the table.
2001–02 2002–03 Annual departmental expenditure limit (DEL)(£ million) 10,731 10,230 Spend to 31 May (£ million) 1,823 2,140 Spend to 31 May as proportion of annual DEL(per cent.) 17.0 20.9 The 2001–02 DEL includes £826 million from the DEL Reserve, voted in the spring Supplementary Estimates, mainly to fund asylum expenditure. If this is discounted, the spend to 31 May 2001 constitutes 19.9 per cent. of that year's DEL.