HC Deb 11 February 1999 vol 325 cc357-9W
Ms Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash and running costs limits of the Registry of Friendly Societies in 1998–99. [71257]

Ms Hewitt

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class XVI, Vote 9, Registry of Friendly Societies, will be increased by £1,000 from £1,522,000 to £1,523,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £505,000 from £7,203,000 to £7,708,000. The change in running costs provision arises from the transfer of support services for the Building Societies and Friendly Societies Commissions and the credit union section of the Central Office from the Registry of Friendly Societies to the Financial Services Authority. The increase will be offset by appropriating in aid additional receipts, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Ms Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash and running costs limits for the Inland Revenue in 1998–99. [71258]

Dawn Primarolo

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash and running costs limits for Class XVI Vote 4 will be increased by £3,493,000 from £1,730,709,000 to £1,734,202,000 and from £1,810,580,000 to £1,814,073,000 respectively.

The increase in running costs provision reflects (a) the transfer of £3,500,000 from the Cabinet Office, Class XVIII, Vote 2 for costs associated with the transfer of part of Euston Tower, (b) the transfer of £8,000 from HM Procurator General and Treasury Solicitor, Class VIII, Vote 6 to cover the costs of legal trainees being provided by the Treasury Solicitor, and (c) the transfer of £15,000 to the Department for Culture Media and Sport, Class X, Vote 1 for costs for services being provided by the Museums and Galleries Commission on pre-eminent testing.

As the increase relates to interdepartmental transfers it will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Ms Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash and running costs limits of HM Treasury in 1998–99. [71259]

Mr. Milburn

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class XVI, Vote 1 will be increased by £8,205,000 from £63,065,000 to £71,270,000, and the running cost limit will be reduced by £1,364,000 from £66,330,000 to £64,966,000. The cash limit increase of £8,205,000 is a result of the partial take up of running cost end year flexibility, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1998,Official Report, columns 131–36. The changes are necessary mainly to provide for reclassification from running costs to other current expenditure on the euro information campaign and the transfer of the Insurance Directorate to the Financial Services Authority, and for additional provision required in these areas.

Additional provision is also required for the UK banking review and payments in respect of paymaster; and capital provision mainly for Debt Management Office.

The net increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Ms Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed in the cash and running costs limits in 1998–99 for HM Customs and Excise. [71260]

Dawn Primarolo

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class XVI, Vote 3 will be increased by £25,388,000 from £835,543,000 to £860,931,000 and the running cost limit for HM Customs and Excise by £15,167,000 from £755,905,000 to £771,072,000.

The Supplementary comprises: an increase of £9,000,000 to enable the Department to make and early start on implementing the Alcohol and Tobacco Fraud Review (ATFR), which was launched in July 1998. The running costs element of this increase is £7,300,000; an increase of £7,867,000 in running costs from the take up of the Department's eligibility under the end year flexibility arrangements; and an increase of £8,521,000 in other current provision (which includes legal fees and costs for the storage and disposal of seized goods), which will be met in full by foregoing the Department's remaining eligibility to running costs end year flexibility.

The Department has also made adjustments to allow for a Treasury change in the accounting treatment of VAT refunds on contracted out services. This adds £11,860,000 to expenditure subheads, offset by an equivalent increase in appropriations in aid.

The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.