§ Mr. Powleyasked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the revised 1985–86 cash limits in his Department's vote to cover the increased provision of additional places in engineering and technology in higher education.
§ Sir Keith JosephAs I announced on 19 March at columns 482–84, the Government are to mount a £43 million programme over the next three years for the provision of additional places for students in higher education to study engineering and technology.
£000 Class Vote Accounting department Description of expenditure Current cash limit Increase Decrease Revised cash limit X 2 Department of Education & Science Student awards, etc. *695,768 +195 *695,963 X 3 Department of Education & Science Universities, etc. 1,506,144 +6,377 1,512,521 X 8 Department of Education & Science Science and engineering research 297,960 +428 298,388 council IV 5 Department of Energy Research and development and indu 290,174 –500 289,674 strial support IV 6 Department of Trade & Industry Scientific and technological 381,483 –2.500 378,983 assistance XV 3 Industrial Department for Scotland Regional and general industrial sup 132,802 *–1,200 131,602 port, Scotland * Class X vote 2 is not subject to a cash limit. † Of this reduction £1 million relates to the engineering and technology programme; the remaining £200,000 relates to expected increased receipts from the ERDF in respect of grants to enterprise trusts. In addition to items listed, a reduction of £500,000 was made by the Welsh Office in the Main Estimate for class XVI, vote 1 (the Welsh block vote covering roads, transport, housing, education etc.) in respect of the transfer of funds for this programme; no revision of the cash limit is therefore required. There is also a contribution from the Department of Employment (£2,500,000) from non-voted expenditure. It represents part of a public expenditure saving from deferring implementation of an increase in maternity pay from 90 per cent. to 100 per cent. of salary. There will therefore be no change to a DE vote and no revised estimate.