HC Deb 11 February 1986 vol 91 cc393-4W
Mr. Corrie

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make any changes to his Department's cash limits for 1985–86.

Mr. Rifkind

Yes. I intend to make changes to two of the cash limits within my responsibility. The cash limit for Vote XV:2 (Agricultural Services and Fisheries, Scotland) is being reduced by £400,000 from £66,453,000 to £66,053,000. This reduction, together with the reductions announced by my predecessor on 12 December 1985, at column 745, will partly offset increased expenditure of £14,776,000 on Vote XV:1 (Agricultural Support, Scotland) which is not subject to a cash limit and for which a Supplementary Estimate will be presented to Parliament shortly.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Vote XV:15 (Education, Arts, Libraries and Social Work, Scotland) will be increased by £752,000 from £148,634,000 to £149,386,000. The increase, which is not classified as public expenditure, is required to cover additional payments to Lothian and Strathclyde regional councils for the outstanding loan debts on Napier college and Glasgow college of technology on their transfer to central institution status.