Vol. 483 No. 1
30 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Finance the overall growth in current expenditure for 1998 over 1997; the growth in current and central fund expenditure for 1998 over 1997; if both figures take into account budget day spending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19696/97]
For the purpose of the Government's programme, commitment to limit net current spending growth to 4 per cent net current spending comprises spending on net non-capital supply services and central fund services.
Details of the increase in net current spending in 1998 over 1997 were provided in the statement I issued on the publication of the 1998 Abridged Estimates Volume and Summary Capital Programme on 12 November, 1997.
The figures are as follows: net non-capital supply services expenditure, as provided in the 1998 Abridged Estimates, is estimated to increase by 4.1 per cent in 1998 over the forecast 1997 outturn; expenditure on central fund services is provisionally estimated to decrease by 5 per cent in 1998 over the 1997 provisional outturn and total net current expenditure is estimated to increase by 1.8 per cent in 1998 over the forecast 1997 outturn.
The figures given above do not take into account budget day spending. The statement I issued on the publication of the Estimates gave a detailed explanation of the main factors underlying the increase in spending in 1998 over 1997 and set out very comprehensively how the Government's spending plans for 1998 affect its expenditure targets. I do not propose to set out the detailed position here again. However, I will say that the 1998 Abridged Estimates meets the Government's commitment to limit the growth in net current expenditure to 4 per cent.
