§ Mr. Hannamasked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will give details of any changes to his Department's cash limits.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerSubsequent to the changes announced by my right hon. Friend the then Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 May 1983—[Vol. 42, c. 416]—and subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the cash limit on Class IV, Vote 19 will be increased from £22,746,000 by £1,300,000 to £24,046,000 and on Class IV, Vote 22 from £2 million by £2 million to £4 million.
The increase on Class IV, Vote 19 is necessary for the compensation payment, announced by my predecessor— 14W [Vol. 42, c. 21]—£1,500,000 to Lazard Freres and Co. for the release of Mr. MacGregor to become chairman of the National Coal Board. The increase has already been abated by £200,000 by savings elsewhere on the vote. The remaining £1,300,000 will be offset by further reductions to cash limits on one or more of the Department of Energy Votes and these will be announced later in the year. There will therefore be no increase in the planning total of public expenditure.
The increase of Class IV, Vote 22 is to allow the reimbursement of expenses incurred by the British Gas Corporation in connection with the planned transfer to the private sector of oil interests of the corporation. There will be no consequential increase in the planning total of public expenditure since the reimbursement does not affect the size of the corporation's external financing limit.