Mr. Jon Owen JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals there are to amend the Wales Office departmental expenditure limit for 1999–2000. [108699]
§ Mr. Paul MurphySubject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XIV, Vote 1 (The Welsh Office, the Wales Office and payments to the National Assembly for Wales) the Welsh Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £8,285,000 from £7,217,489,000 to £7,225,774,000. The increase is a result of net transfers to other Government Departments of £74,000 and additional funding of £7,939,000 and £420,000 for Health and Agriculture respectively.
There is an increase in the provision of Welfare to Work of £548,000 as a result of end-year flexibility entitlement of £300,000 and additional funding of £248,000 announced in the Pre-Budget Report.
Transfers are from Class 1 Vote 1 (£200,000), Class 2 Vote 1 (£11,000), Class 3 Vote 2 (£113,000), Class 3 Vote 3 (£150,000), Class 18 Vote 1 (£300,000) and to Class 2 Vote 1 (£177,000), Class 10 Vote 2 (£260,000) and Class 4 Vote 1 (£411,000). The balance will be met by a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit Reserve for the increases announced in the Pre-Budget Report and the Aid Package for farmers and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.