§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Solicitor-General how much and what proportion of the departmental expenditure limit for 2002–03 will be accounted for by staff costs; what the figures were for 2001–02; and if she will make a statement. [61023]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding answer 17 June 2002]: Figures for the year 2001–02 are not yet available.
The departmental expenditure limit for the Treasury Solicitor's Department, which also includes expenditure by the Legal Secretariat to the Law Officers and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, is set in net terms and takes account of receipts from charges to client Departments for legal services provided to them. It would be misleading, therefore, to show staff costs as a percentage of that figure. However, after allowing for receipts, £24,773,000 (60 per cent.) of Treasury Solicitor's Department's gross administrative costs were accounted for by staff costs in 2001–02.
The departmental expenditure limit for the Serious Fraud Office for 2001–02 was £21,850.000, of which staff costs amounted to £7,785,000 (35.6 per cent.)
The departmental expenditure limit for the Crown Prosecution Service for 2001–02 was £402,200,000, of which staff costs amounted to £196,600,000 (49 per cent.)
§ Mr. Bercow; To ask the Solicitor-General 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 she will make a statement. [61013]
§ The Solicitor-General[holding reply 17 June 2002]: Reliable estimates for 2002–03 spending to 31 May are not available. Estimated outturn spending figures for 2001–02 can be found in Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses 2002–03 published in May 2002 as Command Paper 5401.