The first is to authorise expenditure of 148 million in the spring supplementary estimates for 1997-98 the current financial year. That will bring the total estimates provision for Northern Ireland departmental services to just under 7,000 million for this financial year. That will enable the services of Northern Ireland Departments to continue until the main estimates for next year are introduced later this year. I remind the Committee that the draft order does not cover expenditure by the Northern Ireland Office on law and order and other services. Some of the votes seek token increases only, because new pressures on spending have been offset by savings elsewhere in the vote.
Members have the maximum time for debate.
A net increase of more than 17 million is sought for agriculture. Those payments would otherwise have been held over for payment in the next financial year. Token increases of 1,000 for the Department of Economic Development are sought in votes 2 and 3. In vote 2, an addition of about 500,000 is for the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, to assist the development of tourism in Northern Ireland. Tourism plays an important role in economic development in Northern Ireland, where it is estimated that spending by holiday visitors and domestic holiday makers accounts for approximately 2 per cent.