Written statement on Security and Intelligence Agencies - Contingencies Fund Advance - Mar 7

Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office) (Alex Burghart): The Security and Intelligence Agencies have presented a Supplementary Estimate for approval to Parliament in the Central Government Supply Estimates booklet (HC 1133, published on 21 February). Full details can be found on www.gov.uk(opens in a new tab). As it will be some time before the associated legislation receives Royal Assent, the Agencies are seeking an advance from the Contingencies Fund in order to meet contractual commitments.

Parliamentary approval for additional resource of £140,017,000 has been sought in a Supplementary Estimate for the Security and Intelligence Agencies. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £140,017,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

As the Security and Intelligence Agencies are non-ministerial departments, I am making this statement on behalf of their Accounting Officer to ensure that Parliament is informed of this advance from the Contingencies Fund.