§ Mr. DuncanTo ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits and running costs limits; and what proposals there are to change the cash limit and running costs limit of the Office of the Rail Regulator for 1994–95.
§ Dr. MawhinneySubject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates, the following changes will be made
(i) the cash limit for class VI, vote 1 (highways agency) will be increased by £44,131,000 from £2,098,528,000 to £2,142,659,000. The increase in the cash limit includes the take up of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1994 (Offical Report, columns 729–734) and subsequently adjusted; and, adjustments in funding relating to the formation of the Highways Agency between this vote and class VI, vote 2 and class VI, vote 5.(ii) the cash limit for class VI, vote 2 (administration and transport services) will be increased by £15,620,000 from £235,425,000 to £251,045,000. The additional provision includes the take up of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1994 (Official Report, columns 729–734); the transfer of funds from the Department of Trade and Industry (class IV, vote 1) in respect of the London Regional Passengers Committee; the transfer of funds for research and development from class VI, vote 1 and class VI, vote 5; the transfer to class VI, vote 1 of various items of running costs and administrative capital; and, the transfer of provision to class VI, vote 7 to cover professional advisers' fees.(iii) the cash limit for class VI, vote 5 (local roads and transport) will be increased by £59,669,000 from £532,904,000 to £592,573,000. The increase includes the take up of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1994 (Official Report, columns 729–734); various transfers of funds between this vote and class VI, vote I, class VI, vote 2 and from non-voted expenditure; and, the increase of provision for special grants to passenger transport authorities.(iv) the cash limit for class VI, vote 7 (passenger rail services) will he increased by £63,000,000 by transfers from class VI, vote 2, class VI, vote 3 and from non-voted expenditure from £1,684,500,000 to £1,747,500,000. The additional provision is required for sums due to British Railways Board in respect 1036W of public service obligations and for the costs of professional advisers' fees in connection with the Franchising Director's duties to designate railway passenger services as eligible for provision under franchise agreements.(v) the cash limit for class VI, vote 8 (office of the rail regulator) will be increased by £1,255,000 from £6,457,000 to £7,712,000. The increased cash limit includes the take up of end year flexibility entitlement of £1,058,000 as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1994 (Official Report, columns 729–734) and a transfer of £197,000 from the Department of Trade and Industry (Class IV, vote 1) for accommodation costs of the rail users committees.(vi) The Department of Transport Local Authority Capital cash limit has been increased by £6,000,000 from £291,358,000 to £297,358,000. This reflects the take up of end year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 1 July 1994 (Official Report, columns 729–734).(vii) The Department of Transport running costs limits has been reduced by £382,000 from £418,375,000 to £417,993,000 and the Office of the Rail Regulator running costs limit has been increased by £197,000 from £5,973,000 to £6,170,000.The overall increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, acid to the planned total of public expenditure. In particular, there are a number of adjustments between the voted and non-voted elements of railway expenditure which do not affect the control total.