§ Mr. LawsTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions for what reasons spending by his Department on corporate and shared services has increased between 1998–99 and 2003–04; and if he will make a statement. [97345]
§ Mr. McCartneyThe Department for Work and Pensions came into being on 1 April 2001. Consequently there are no comparable figures prior to this date. The final actual expenditure for 2002–03 has yet to be confirmed and therefore a comparison with actual expenditure for 2001–02 or planned expenditure for 2003–04 cannot be made. The current expenditure plans of the Department for Work and Pensions are contained in Tables 1–11 of the Departmental Report: The Government expenditure plans 2002–03 to 2003–04, Command 5424.