| Regular Programme | US$ `000 | |
| Appropriation | 39 762 | |
| Expenditure | 45 997 | |
| Over/(Under) Spending, US$ `000 | 6 235 | |
| Over/(Under) Spending, % | 16% |
Achievements
335. This Chapter of the PWB covers the cost of common services including communications, procurement, buildings maintenance and security at Headquarters and the decentralized offices, under the management of the Administrative Services Division (AFS). The over expenditure indicated in the above table mainly relates to adverse staff cost variance, the transfer of funds and the associated expenditures for distribution of publications from other programmes and the impact of encumbered abolished posts, where redeployment took some time to complete.
336. Upgrading of the Headquarters building complex continued. A major undertaking was ensuring the logistics for the WFS, which resulted in a significant improvement in the areas of security, catering, accommodation and communications. Technological enhancements affected many of the common services provided, particularly in the area of communications, as shown in Table 6.0-1.
| Description | 1994-95 | 1996-97 |
| Contractual Services | ||
| Contracts Awarded/Revised | 866 | 554 |
| Total Value, US$ million | 42 | 40 |
| Purchasing | ||
| Purchase Orders handled, including field | 6 552 | 4 866 |
| Total Value, US$ million | 94 | 92 |
| Communications | ||
| Incoming telexes | 51 178 | 5 964 |
| Outgoing telexes | 130 658 | 74 734 |
| Incoming faxes (pages) | 750 396 | 168 574 |
| Outgoing faxes (pages) | 678 798 | 300 810 |
| Incoming pouch bags | 11 872 | 11 264 |
| Outgoing pouch bags | 29 074 | 21 490 |
| Incoming (letters/parcels) | 38 836 | 35 224 |
| Outgoing (letters/parcels) | 415 766 | 857 498 |
| Building Maintenance | ||
| Maintenance interventions | 25 512 | 26 000 |
337. Deregulation in the communications industry allowed the Organization to secure lower unit rates for both voice and data transmission. With greater access to electronic mail and the implementation of computer-based fax systems, which allowed users to send faxes directly from their desktop, there was a decrease of close to two-thirds in the volume of telexes and faxes during 1996-97 in comparison with 1994-95. The increase in outgoing letters and parcels was mainly related to the WFS and World Food Day events. The decline in procurement services reflected both a decrease in the size of the field programme and the reduction in the resources of the Organization.
338. The requirements for buildings' maintenance, which included interventions by electricians, hydraulic mechanics, plumbers, lift technicians, carpenters and other trades, remained relatively constant.