Skip to main content

Departmental Public Finance

Volume 470: debated on Thursday 24 January 2008

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will break down his Department's planned near cash funding by strategic objective, for financial years 2008-09 to 2010-11. (179193)

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is a complex organisation whose structures in the UK and overseas reflect a mix of geographical and functional responsibilities. Staff costs account for approximately 55 per cent. of departmental discretionary near-cash expenditure. I refer the hon. Member to my reply of 15 January 2008, Official Report, column 1140W: the vast majority of Foreign and Commonwealth Office staff work on more than one strategic objective. It is therefore not possible to provide a full answer on the basis requested. Nevertheless the following table setting out planned expenditure on strategic programme activities for the next three years illustrates the priority being accorded to work in the four areas highlighted in the written ministerial statement made by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary on 23 January 2008, Official Report, columns 52-53 WS.

£ million (near-cash)

2008-09

2009-10

2010-11

Counter Terrorism/Counter Proliferation

35.30

41.00

56.00

Low Carbon/High Growth Economy

13.70

19.70

24.70

Strong International System

9.35

9.35

9.35

Conflict Prevention and Resolution

19.30

19.30

19.30