MOSCOW, August 23 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's government will spend 263 billion rubles ($10.2 billion) on national projects during 2007, 12% more than the figure originally set out in the annual budget, the Finance Ministry said.

The data published on the ministry's website in advance of Thursday's Cabinet meeting to review January-June budget spending said government outlays on national projects, including providing affordable housing, and developing agriculture, healthcare and education, had been originally set at $235 billion rubles ($9 billion), which was 50% higher than in 2006.

The first half of the year saw a budget surplus of 1.08 trillion rubles ($41.6 billion), with spending at 2.17 trillion rubles ($84 billion) and revenue at 3.2 trillion rubles ($126 billion), the ministry said.

Tax payments to the budget in the first half of the year totaled 2 trillion rubles ($77.7 billion), 3.7% more than expected. The largest tax contributor during the period was bankrupt oil company Yukos, which paid $92.3 billion rubles ($3.57 billion).

Payments into the Stabilization Fund, set up to accrue windfall oil revenue, totaled 672 billion rubles ($26 billion) in January-June, 26.4 % less than planned, the ministry said.