§ Mrs. Betty WilliamsTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed to the Intervention Board Executive Agency's cash limit for 1998–99. [58156]
§ Mr. Nick BrownSubject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for the Intervention Board Executive Board Executive Agency (Class IV Vote I Administration) will be increased by £12,310,000 from £60,194,000 to £72,504,000. This vote is eligible for a running cost increase of £761,000 in respect438W of the end year flexibility arrangements, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 131–36.
The increase is to cover running costs associated with the Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) schemes operated by IB and its agents in the United Kingdom; and capital expenditure on IT systems enhancement and development. The running costs limit for the Intervention Board Executive Agency will be increased by £11,448,000 from £57,590,000 to £69,038,000.
The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.