The published end-February Exchequer statement showed that voted current and capital issues to Departments were up some 22% over the same period in 2001 in comparison with a forecast increase of 14% for the year as a whole.
The published end-month Exchequer statement does not provide a current-capital split of the total figure. However, I can tell the Deputy that at end-February net voted current spending was up some 19% and net voted capital spending increased by 32% to end-February 2001. The figures can be affected by timing factors either in 2002 or in the base year, 2001.
On current spending the Votes which showed the biggest increases were Health and Children, Social, Community and Family Affairs, Agriculture, Food and Rural Development and Public Enterprise.
The increase in spending by the Department of Health and Children is generally a reflection of timing issues arising from a lower drawdown from the Exchequer to end-February 2001 in comparison with the drawdown in January and February 2002. In the case of Social, Community and Family Affairs the increase was in line with the forecast increase provided for in the Revised Estimates and reflects earlier payment dates in 2002 in comparison with 2001.
Spending by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry to end-February 2002 includes BSE compensation and other payments which were not made until later in 2001 either because the BSE scheme had not yet commenced at this stage last year and owing to particular delays in 2001 arising from the precautions taken to prevent the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease. The increased spending by the Department of Public Enterprise reflects a timing issue. Payments to CIE were made later in the year in 2001 whereas the payments up to end-February 2002 are in line with the expected profile.
The increase in capital spending is mainly due to spending by the Department of Environment and Local Government. Spending on roads, water and housing is up on this time last year.
I am committed to ensuring that spending for the year as a whole will remain on target and I have made this clear to all Departments.