HC Deb 01 November 1996 vol 284 cc309-10W
Mr. Richards

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further changes he proposes to make in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running costs limits for 1996–97. [2429]

Mr. Hanley

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates the following changes will be made.

The cash limit for class II, vote 1—Overseas Representation—will be increased by £8,349,000 from £663,010,000 to £671,359,000. The increase results mainly from the take up of the end-year flexibility entitlement of £7,543,000 announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 July 1996, Official Report columns 326–31. There are also net transfers totalling £806,000, which includes inward transfers of £1,522,000 from the Department of Environment (£1,175,000 running costs), £432,000 from PACE (£432,000 running costs), £100,000 from the Home Office (£100,000 running costs), £17,000 from the Department of National Heritage (£17,000 running costs) and £10,000 from SAFE (£10,000 running costs) with an outward transfer of £1,275,000 to class II, vote 3 (£75,000 running costs). Additionally, there is a transfer between subheads of £24,000 from running costs into other current expenditure.

The gross running costs limit on class II, vote 1 increases by £1,635,000, from £519,058,000 to £520,693,000.

The cash limit for class II, vote 2—Other External Relations—will be increased by £20,202,000 from £209,096,000 to £229,298,000. Parliamentary authority will be sought for additional expenditure in respect of certain international organisations and contributions to peacekeeping operations. This increase will be met partly by increased appropriations in aid and partly from a claim on the reserve.

The cash limit for class II, vote 3—BBC World Service—will be increased by £2,465,000 from £169,638,000 to £172,103,000. The increase is required to take up £1,190,000 under the end-year flexibility scheme announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 July 1996, Official Report columns 326–31. Additionally there is a transfer from class II, vote 1 of £1,275,000 to take on responsibility for the FCO relay stations in Cyprus and Oman and in the UK at Orfordness, Suffolk.

All the increases in provision will be offset by transfers or charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.