The Department of Environmental Affairs was allocated a total budget of R2.6 billion in the 2010/11 financial year, the Department had spent R443 million or 17 per cent of the original budget at the end of the first quarter. The Department had project to spend up to R469 million in the first quarter but only R443 million was spent. This under expenditure was due to the low spending on capital payments which resulted from the non- payment for computer equipment that was supposed to be made in the first quarter. The under spending was also attributed to the slow spending on programme 1. The Department had projected to spend R62 million in the first quarter for programme 1 (Administration) but only R40 million was spent. This meant that the Department had under spent by R20 million in this programme. It was indicated that accommodation invoices that had note been received from the Department of Public Works were a key contributor to this under expenditure.