§ Mr. YeoTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what change is proposed for the 1987–88 running cost limit for his Department.
§ Mr. YoungerSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the 1987–88 running costs limit for the Ministry of Defence will be increased by £75,000,000 (or about 1 per cent. above the current provision) from £5,113,259,000 to £5,188,259,000. This increase arises from a number of factors including increased civilian redundancies arising from contractorisation, adverse fluctuations in exchange rates, increased forces' travel; and increased expenditure on maintenance of the defence estate. The revised limit also takes account 455W of the transfer to £58,000 to the Treasury Solicitor's Department for work arising from the repeal of section 10 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947. The increases in running costs will be met by the defence budget and there will be no increase in public expenditure.