HC Deb 22 February 1973 vol 851 cc181-2W
Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement giving details of why there has been an increase from£11,265,000 to£14,691,000 for Royal palaces, Royal parks, historic buildings and ancient monuments, etc.; and how much of this additional£3,426,000 is to be spent on matters connected with the Royal palaces.

Mr. Channun

This Vote also includes provision for works services for the national museums and galleries, and the Supplementary Estimate is mainly required for the cost of land for the British Library and for revised estimates for furniture, equipment, rent and fuel for the various services covered by the Vote. Expenditure on Royal palaces is expected to be slightly less than the original estimate.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement giving details of why there has been an increase of£4,070,000 in the Estimates of his Department.

Mr. Rippon

Partly to meet the cost of past pay awards and increased prices, partly because expenditure on consultants and on administrative costs were greater than expected, and partly because receipts in respect of works services carried out for other Government Departments were below the expected levels.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement giving details of why there has been an increase from£33,635,000 to£38,635,000 for the Property Services Agency.

Mr. Channon

The property Services Agency was set up on 1st September 1972, and£33,635,000 was calculated to be the appropriate share for the remainder of 1972–73 of the original 1972–73 Estimate for salaries and expenses of the Department of the Environment. It is now estimated that the expenditure will be£38,635,000. Of the increase,£4 million is due to pay awards not covered by the original Estimate, including one for professional and technical staff, involving backdating, where payment started after the PSA came into being. The remaining£1 million is largely due to under-estimation of items of expenditure transferred to the agency.