HC Deb 01 February 1991 vol 184 cc681-2W
Mr. Home Robertson

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if the announcement by his predecessor, the right hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Mr. Rifkind), of 6 September 1990, concerning the provision of a 24-hour treatment service at the casualty unit at Roodlands hospital, Haddington, remains Government policy;

(2) whether a 24-hour treatment service is provided at the casualty unit at Roodlands hospital, Haddington; when he intends to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for East Lothian dated 21 December 1990 on that subject; and if he will make a statement.

a shortfall in receipts. In addition, funds available for surrender to the consolidated fund as extra receipts will be reduced from £372,000 to zero. These changes will be partially offset by further cash limit reductions totalling £414,851 to be announced in due course.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 21, Scottish Office administration will be increased by £217,000 from £130,152,000 to £130,369,000. Increased provision is required to reduce the backlog of regional medical service reference work and to meet extraordinary legal expenses. The additional expenditure will, however, be partially offset by a reduction in the cash limits for class XIV, vote 7. Increased provision is also required for expenditure on outward seconded staff but this will be offset by a corresponding increase in receipts. As a result of changes relating to the regional medical service and the running costs provision within class XV, vote 14 the running costs limit for the Scottish Office will be increased by £442,000 from £222,597,000 to £223,039,000.

The non-voted cash limit SOLA2 will be reduced by £10,510,000 from £347,987,000 to £337,468,000. This is required to provide for the acquisition of stock by Scottish Homes from local authorities and new town development corporations.

These changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total published today in the statistical supplement to the 1990 autumn statement.

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