HL Deb 23 June 1998 vol 591 cc11-2WA
Baroness Kennedy of The Shaws

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What changes are proposed to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office cash limits and running cost limits for 1998–99. [HL2388]

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary revised estimate, the cash limit for Class II, Vote 1 (overseas representation) will be reduced by £2,261,000 from £590,265,000 to £588,004,000. This reduction takes account of transfers of responsibility to the newly established Department for International Development (Class III, Vote 1). It also reflects the movement of the Wilton Park executive agency from a net running cost regime to a gross running cost regime. This does not change the overall cash limit.

The gross running costs limit on Class II, Vote 1, will be reduced by £509,000 from £511,044,000 to £510,535,000.

The changes will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.