To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what money was spent in each Department from the Modernisation Fund in (a) each of the last four years and (b) 2008-09 to date. (244470)

[holding answer 16 December 2008]: The Modernisation Fund provides support to Departments to meet the transitional costs associated with releasing savings over the CSR period and embedding ongoing efficiencies over the longer-term.

The Modernisation Fund has been in operation since 2007-08. Amounts drawn down by Departments are shown in the following table and are also set out to Parliament in Supplementary Estimates.

All Departments are also expected to improve services and deliver improved value for money from within their spending review settlements.