asked the Minister for Finance the total amount of capital formally or informally, requested by State-sponsored bodies to be provided in 1981, either by way of loan or equity investment.

Details of the amounts of Exchequer finance, totalling £60.1 million, which are being made available, by way of loan or equity, to State bodies under the 1981 Public Capital Programme are included in Table 4 of the recently published Public Capital Programme booklet. The footnote to the same table shows that £0.7 million is being made available to State bodies for re-financing purposes.

In addition to these amounts, I have made a contingency provision of £70 million in the budget to provide for the possibility that the Government may make additional capital available to certain State bodies.

It is not the usual practice to disclose the amounts which Departments or State bodies request from the Exchequer.

Why did the Minister not answer the question he was asked, which was not the amount provided but the amount requested?

It is not usual to give details of the Estimates demands made by Departments or State bodies. These are regarded as confidential.

Why did the Minister not say that in the first place instead of using a smokescreen?

Some of the Deputy's colleagues will know that these are regarded as confidential, being part of the Government's deliberations on the budget.

In view of the fact that these are autonomous bodies, why has it been decided by the Government to keep secret the amount which they request from them?

It is the normal practice which was engaged in by the Deputy's colleagues when in Government.

Has the Minister in his brief the total figure requested?

£60.1 million was made available.

We are not in Bulgaria. Has the Minister in his brief the total sum requested? I am not asking him to tell us a secret, if it is a secret.

Yes, the figure is in my brief.

Is there in the Minister's brief a comparative sum for the previous year?

No.