§ Mr. GrayTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the Defence Intelligence Budget was in(a) 1997, (b) 2000 and (c) 2004; and what budget is projected for the next three financial years. [173961]
§ Mr. Ingram[holding answer 18 May 2004]: There is no defence intelligence budget as such. While the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) operates as a discrete unit, other elements of the defence intelligence community are integral parts of a range of budgetary areas.
The DIS's budgets for 2000–01 and the current financial year (2004–05) are as follows:
Financial year £million 2000–01 1151.7 2004–05 2198.4 1Cash at outturn prices. 2"Near-cash" at 2004–05 prices. Notes: 1. In 2000–01, the Department was still budgeted in cash terms. Under Resource Accounting and Budgeting, it is now controlled in terms of Resource and Capital Departmental Expenditure Limits (DELs). 2. "Near-cash" comprises Resource and Capital DELs, less charges for cost of capital and depreciation, and changes in provisions. In 2000–01, the Department was controlled in cash, whereas the figure for 2004–05 reflects the move to Resource Accounting and Budgeting. The two figures are not therefore directly comparable. I will write to the hon. Member about the DIS's budget for 1997–98.
Planning assumptions about the content and timing of the defence programme in future years form part of internal advice to Ministers on the overall affordability of defence, and in some cases anticipate decisions to be taken by Ministers. I am therefore withholding budgetary information on future years under 639W Exemption 2 of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information. The defence budget beyond 2005–06 will be agreed in the 2004 Spending Review.