§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the Government's long term spending plans for creating a knowledge-based economy in Northern Ireland. [82029]
§ Mr. PearsonThe Executive's Draft Budget for 2003–04 to 2005–06 was announced in the Northern Ireland Assembly on 24 September 2002. We are currently considering the responses to the Draft Budget consultation exercise which ended on 15 November 2002 and will be announcing Revised Budget spending plans for the Northern Ireland departments in December.
These plans will set out the allocations which are to be provided to promote the development of a knowledge-based economy in Northern Ireland.