§ Mr. RichardsTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what changes he proposes to make to the cash limits for his Department in the current financial year.
§ Mr. RedwoodSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit on class XV, vote 2 will be increased by £4,500,000 from £173,940,000 to £178,440,000; the cash limit on class XV, vote 8 will be reduced by £22,145,000 from £1,381,726,000 to £1,359,581,000; and the cash limit on class XV, vote 9 will be increased by £404,000 from £65,142,000 to £65,546,000. The local authority capital cash limit—WO/LACAP—will be increased by £358,000 from £409,185,000 to £409,543,000 and the cash limit on the European regional development fund—WO/ERDF—will be reduced by £18,116,000 from £50,650,000 to £32,534,000. The running costs limit for the Department will be increased by £165,000 from £77,284,000 to £77,449,000.
The increase in the cash limit for class XV, vote 2 is required partly to offset a forecast shortfall in receipts by the Welsh Development Agency.
The net reduction in the cash limit for class XV, vote 8 arises mainly from the transfer of provision to class XV, vote 7 in respect of (i) a revised estimate of drug expenditure for GP fundholders—£6,750,000—and (ii) NHS trusts—£16,182,000. These transfers comprise part of a spring supplementary estimate for class XV, vote 7 of £46,178,000.
The increase in the cash limit for class XV, vote 9 comprises mainly a transfer of £147,000 from the Property Services Agency and additional resources for capital expenditure of £250,000.
950WThere are also changes to two non-voted cash limits. The increase in the cash limit for WO/LACAP is in respect of a transfer from HO/LACAP in respect of the replacement of fire service mobilisation and communication systems. The reduction in the cash limit for WO/ERDF reflects lower than expected expenditure on ERDF projects in 1993–94.
None of the proposed changes will add to the planned total of public expenditure.