Office of Public Sector Information

1.  Eliminating poverty in poorer countries

International development under the International Development Act 2002, including financial and technical assistance to governments, institutions, voluntary agencies and individuals; capital and other subscriptions and contributions, including payments under guarantee to multilateral development banks and other international and regional bodies; emergency, refugee and other relief assistance; contributions to pension funds and grants in lieu of pensions in respect of overseas service; global environment assistance; payments to United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO); current and capital costs relating to investments in public corporations and shareholdings in private sector companies; payments (under the authority of the European Communities Act 1972) to certain beneficiaries of the Gibraltar Social Insurance Fund; administration, related capital expenditure and other administrative costs; and associated non-cash items.

2.  Conflict prevention

Conflict prevention, early warning, crisis management, conflict resolution/peacemaking and peacebuilding activity and on associated strengthening of international and regional systems and capacity; post-conflict reconstruction programmes, including administration and related capital expenditure; and associated non-cash items.

1.  Overseas superannuation

Pension and superannuation payments, grants and compensation payments, etc. in respect of overseas services; pensions for beneficiaries of certain former overseas pensions funds for which the UK assumed responsibility; contributions to pensions funds guaranteed by the UK; refunds of contributions made by overseas governments; war service credit; and associated non-cash items.

1.  Increasing UK competitiveness

Promotion of enterprise, innovation and increased productivity delivered through market solutions designed to meet market imperfections identified within the portfolios of innovation, international trade and investment, regional investment, enterprise for small firms and people & skills; support for business, including support for specific industries, small businesses, regional programmes and programmes to promote research and development, innovation, best practice and sustainable development; promotion of strong, fair and competitive markets at home and abroad including developing fair and effective legal and regulatory frameworks, measures to protect investors, measures to promote the interests of consumers, support for employment relations programmes and measures to promote a skilled and flexible labour market; support for energy-related activities including measures related to regulation, civil emergency planning, environmental remediation and support for new and sustainable energy sources, security, non-proliferation; safety, environment and social impact programmes relating to nuclear sites in Central and Eastern Europe and the Former Soviet Union and other countries where future G8 Global Partnership related initiatives may be pursued; the efficient management and discharge of liabilities falling to the Department including nuclear waste management and decommissioning and liabilities in respect of former coal and shipbuilding industry employees; provision of repayable credit facilities for British Energy and Royal Mail; petroleum royalties; exchange risk and other guarantee losses; subscriptions to international organisations and fulfilment of international treaty obligations; payments to other Government Departments and the Devolved Administrations in relation to programmes supporting DTI objectives; support for Government Offices; grants and grants-in-aid to organisations promoting DTI objectives, including Non-Departmental Public Bodies; financial assistance to public corporations including Ofcom; managing the Government’s shareholder interest in Royal Mail, British Energy, BNFL, UKAEA, Royal Mint, Partnerships UK and Actis; funding of the department’s executive agencies; issuing budgets and making payments to Regional Development Agencies, to which other government departments will contribute by supplying resources which DTI will appropriate in aid; payments to local authorities in respect of Local Area Agreements and New Burdens responsibilities; miscellaneous programmes including payments in respect of claims for the restitution of property of victims of Nazi persecution, compensation for distant water trawlermen and assistance to redundant steelworkers and dismissed miners; departmental administration costs and a share of the administration costs of UK Trade and Investment; payments towards the expenses of the Office of Manpower Economics; associated non-cash items.

2.  Increasing scientific excellence in the UK and maximising its contribution to society

Research Councils; the Royal Society; the Royal Academy of Engineering; the British Academy; Office of Science and Technology initiatives; nuclear fusion; the Cambridge/Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Council for the Central Laboratory of the Research Councils for Diamond Synchrotron; the University Challenge Fund; the Joint Infrastructure Fund; the Science Research Investment Fund; Foresight Link Awards; the Department for Education and Skills, for the Higher Education Innovation Fund; exploitation of discoveries at public sector research establishments; the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for Dorothy Hodgkin Scholarships; fees payable under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986; Research Council pensions; capital and administration costs of the Office of Science and Technology and associated non-cash items.

1.  To enhance the competiveness of companies in the UK through overseas trade and investments; and attract a continuing high level of quality foreign direct investment

Trade development and promotion and inward investment, including grants to the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs), associated capital and other related expenditure and associated non-cash items.

1.  Effective management of UKAEA pension schemes

Payment of pensions etc., to members of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority superannuation schemes and the related expenditure and associated non-cash items.

1.  To provide export finance assistance through interest support to benefit the UK economy by facilitating exports

Interest support to banks and other lenders of export finance, grants towards financing of exports to match foreign competition, the funding of the refinancing programme, and on asssociated non-cash items.

2.  To provide export credit guarantees and investment insurance to benefit the UK economy by facilitating exports

Export credit guarantees given in the national interest or to render economic assistance to overseas countries, overseas investment insurance, residual commitments under discontinued facilities, the cost escalation scheme subvention for the active management of the portfolio, and on associated non-cash items.

1.  Advancing and safeguarding the economic interests of UK consumers

Administrative and operational costs, and associated non-cash items.

1.   Protecting consumers by regulating monopolies and promoting competition in the electricity and gas industry

Administrative and operational costs, payments to DTI, co-operation with international regulators and associated non-cash items.

2.  Expenditure in connection with the Climate Change Levy

The accreditation of renewable energy producers and certification of output under the Finance Act 2000.

1.  Ensuring the provision of a universal postal service at a uniform tariff, protecting consumers and promoting competition

Administrative and operational costs and associated non-cash items.

1.  Ensuring that consumers benefit from competitively priced food, produced to high standards of safety; environmental care and animal welfare from a sustainable, efficient food chain, to contribute to the well-being of rural and coastal communities and funding aspects of the Common Agricultural Policy and England Rural Development Plan Guarantee Section as economically, efficiently and effectively as possible

Environmental protection; support for measures which improve local environmental quality; pollution emergency response services; flood and coastal protection and land drainage; water partnership supply and sewerage services, including national security; to increase the UK’s environment decontamination capabilities involving chemical, biological or radiological materials; support to the environmental protection industry for environmental technology and for measures to promote sustainable development; measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve energy efficiency, security and environmental practice; botanical services; radon measurement and support of remedial works campaigns; support for agriculture in special areas; food safety and hygiene; support for rural and regional development; assistance to production; marketing and processing in the agriculture, fisheries and food industries; assistance to the residuary Milk Marketing Board; cover for payment arising out of the Factortame group of claims following the House of Lords judgement in October 1999; emergency and strategic food services; plant health; support for the fishing industry; compensation payments to producers; grants and other financial support to voluntary bodies; support for measures to stimulate sustainable consumption of goods and services; countryside management and stewardship; conservation; national parks grants; support of countryside and wildlife initiatives; animal health and welfare; emergency measures, including foot and mouth eradication and compensation schemes; other services including emergency measures in relation to BSE; grant-in-aid to Non-Departmental Public Bodies and subsidy to Public Corporations; subscriptions and contributions to international organisations; surveys, monitoring, statistics, advice and consultancies; publicity, promotion, awareness and publications; commissioned and departmental research and development; specialist support services, management and development of staff, other departmental administration costs, regional restructuring costs; EU receipts; giving effect in the United Kingdom to the agricultural support provisions of the Common Agricultural Policy and England Rural Development Plan of the European Union including compensation payments to producers and support for agriculture in special areas, management of inland waterways by British Waterways Board; consumer representation and other functions under the Water Act 2003 and associated non-cash costs.

1.  To implement the programmes of the England Forestry Strategy

Deliver the social, environmental and economic programmes of the England Forestry Strategy, connected to the distinctive needs of the Regions, through the promotion of forestry: and by managing the Commission’s estate regulating planting and felling and offering incentives.

2.  To take the lead in development and promotion of sustainable forest management and to support its achievement nationally

Provide advice and support to the UK government and to the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, represent the United Kingdom’s forestry interests within the European Union and internationally, set standards for sustainable forest management and encourage good forestry practice, conduct forest research and protect forests from pests and disease.

1.  Regulation of the water industry

Administrative and operational costs and the provision of customer representation and associated non-cash items.