Written question asked by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Baroness Taylor of Bolton (Labour) on Monday, 23 March 2009.

Department for International Development: DEL

Question: To ask Her Majesty's Government further to the Written Answer by Lord Tunnicliffe on 9 March (WA 200), what changes in forecast spending resulted in £917,000 being transferred back to the Ministry of Defence.

Answer: The tri-departmental Stabilisation Aid Fund (SAF) seeks to manage numerous projects, across a broad range of strands, in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Money transferred at parliamentary estimates reflects latest forecast expenditure by departments, based on judgments made in theatre on the likelihood of spend in-year and in accordance with priorities set by the tri-departmental programme board. While best efforts are made to ensure that estimates of forecast expenditure are robust, the operational environment in which SAF projects are delivered means that these can be subject to variation over time. By the Spring Supplementary Estimate (SSE), estimated forecast expenditure indicated an imbalance between DfID, MoD and the FCO, which transfers at SSE sought to correct. Any reduction in forecast DfID project expenditure was matched by a reallocation of funds to other Iraq SAF projects.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 2231; 709 c91-2WA
Session: 2008-09
Related items: Department for International Development: DEL
Monday, 9 March 2009
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Department for International Development Public expenditure Ministry of Defence
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk