Question put and agreed to. After that exciting introduction, I beg to move. Details of the sums sought in relation to the draft order are given in the estimates booklets and the statement of sums required on account, which have been placed in the Library of the House and are available from the Vote Office. It is significant that this is the first meeting of the Northern Ireland Grand Committee at which a Northern Ireland appropriation order will be debated. I look forward to hearing what hon.
Members have to say in relation to the draft order.
I shall please them by saying that I intend to make my initial remarks as brief as possible. I was reading last night that Mr. Gladstone made Budget speeches that lasted for at least four or five hours. That is certainly not my intention this morning. The draft order has two purposes. The first is to authorise expenditure of 148 million in the spring supplementary estimates for 1997-98 the current financial year.