§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed in her Department's cash limits for 1993–94.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThe cash limit for class III, vote 5 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Departmental Research, Advisory Services and Administration) will be decreased by £341,000 from £312,934,000 to £312,593,000. This change is the result of transfers of £288,000 to the Intervention Board—Executive Agency (class III, vote 2) and £53,000 to the Welsh Office (class XV, vote 9) and will reduce the department's gross running cost limit from £309,410,000 to £309,069,000.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Intervention Board Executive Agency (class III, vote 2) will be increased by £932,000 to £52,932,000. The transfer from class III, vote 5 contributes towards a proposed increase in provision for the agency's administration vote (class III, vote 2) following the announcement—Official Report, 24 June 1993, columns 244–45—that it shall assume operational responsibility for the administration of milk quotas in the United Kingdom. Capital will be increased by £295,000 to £1,456,000 and agents' fees will be reduced by £1,000,000 to £19,831,000. The supplementary estimate will also give effect to the running costs end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1993, Official Report, columns 512–17.
The running costs limit for the Intervention Board executive agency will be increased by £1,637,000 to £32,372,000 to reflect the necessary preparations for the administration of milk quotas (£1,552,000) and additional costs of computer conversion (£85,000). These increases will be met in part by the transfer from class III, vote 5 (£288,000) and end-year flexibility provision of £144,000.
The transfer of funds from MAFF to the Welsh Office takes account of that department assuming responsibility for the administration of grants and subsidy payments in Wales. It is included in a number of changes to class XV, vote 9 (Welsh Office Administration) which contribute to a net reduction in the cash limit for that vote as detailed in the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.
The cash limit for class III, vote 4 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: Agricultural, Food and Fishing Services) will be reduced by £19,171,000 from £385,985,000 to £366,814,000. Within this limit, expenditure will be reduced by £15,423,000 on agricultural schemes, by £3,295,000 on coast protection and by £453,000 on sea fishery support. These reductions reflect a predicted decrease in demand and delay in implementation in further areas of these schemes. The remaining reduction (£82,000) reflects the transfer of responsibility for the Oslo Commission to DOE.
40WThe increases will be offset by savings and charges to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.