Mr. Paul McKeown:

Each year we work closely with our parent Department on what our requirements are and we fully expect to hit our approval targets in the year. The underlying payments in the case of companies depend on when those companies, in line with their business activities, claim the money from us. Year to year, there can be some variability on payments. On some offers we are over, while on others we are under, but we work closely with the companies on that. The key point is that once we have made an approval to a company, that is a commitment from us. Regardless of whether the company claims it this year or next year, as long as it claims it in line with its letter of offer, we will make that payment to it. Many of our programmes have a multi-year aspect in that they will span more than one financial year. There is, therefore, always a degree to which we manage the overs and unders on particular programmes in line with our budget management and our parent Department.