HC Deb 01 February 1996 vol 270 cc845-6W
Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what proposals he has to change his Department's cash limits and running cost limits; and what proposals there are to change the cash limit of the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising and the Office of the Rail Regulator for 1995–96. [13611]

Sir George Young

(i) The cash limit for class VI, vote 2—administration and transport services—is reduced by £2,388,000 from £177,405,000 to £175,017,000. The reduction is made up of transfers to class VI, vote 3, £1,700,000, vote 7, £601,000, and the Department of the Environment, class VII, vote 5, £87,000.

(ii) The cash limit for class VI, vote 3—transport industries—is increased by £1,700,000 from £8,000,000 to £9,700,000. The increase is wholly made up of transfers from class VI, vote 2.

(iii) The cash limit for class VI, vote 4—Vehicle and Driver Licensing Agency—is reduced by £3,000,000 from £176,549,000 to £173,549,000. The reduction is wholly derived from transfers to class VI, vote 7.

(iv) The cash limit for class VI, vote 5—roads and local transport—is reduced by £2,150,000 from £514,765,000 to £512,615,000. The reduction is wholly made up of transfers to class VI, vote 3.

(v) The cash limit for class VI, vote 6—other transport agencies—is increased by £275,000 from £81,816,000 to £82,091,000. The whole of the increase comprises a transfer of funds from the Ministry of Defence, class 1, vote 1, to the Coastguard agency for stationing a search and rescue helicopter at Portland.

(vi) The cash limit for class VI, vote 7—passenger rail services—is increased. by £98,878,000 from £1,620,604,000 to £1,719,482,000. £75,000,000 is funded from non-voted provision for the railways. The remainder comprises £20,277,000 as a claim on the reserve and a transfer of funds from class VI, votes 2 and 4—£3,601,000. The additional provision is required for consultancies and restructuring proposals.

(vii) The Department of Transport local authority capital cash limit has been increased by £3,796,000 from £353,906,000 to £357,702,000. This completes take up of capital end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary on 13 July 1995, Official Report, columns 776–82.

(viii) The Department of Transport running costs limit has been reduced by £1,579,000 from £413,464,000 to £411,885,000 and the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising running costs limit has been increased by £1,492,000 from £4,672,000 to £6,164,000. The changes in the Department of Transport running costs limit reflect salary payments for staff transferring to the Central Transport Group, £87,000 from the Department of Environment and restructuring and relocation costs, £1,492,000 for the Office of Passenger Rail Franchising.

The overall increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.