§ Mr. Doverasked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has any changes to announce to his Department's cash limits.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerYes. The level of receipts from disposals of the new town property has been running at a higher level than expected. Accordingly, the non-voted cash net limit (DOE/NT1) for this year has been reduced by £15.88 million from minus £99.6 million to minus £115.53 million. The net cash limit is negative because, with the new towns programme nearing completion, disposal receipts now exceed the amount of gross new investment.
£1.63 million of the additional receipts arises from a further disposal of properties from the Central Lancashire Development Corporation to various housing associations.
To permit the acquisition, the non-voted net cash limit DOE/HC1 has been increased accordingly, from £698.4 million to £700.03 million.
The overall effect of the changes is a reduction of £14.25 million in the Department's public expenditure provision.