§ Mr. Benyonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the expenditure in 1982–83 on overseas representation, diplomatic and consular services, Class II, Vote 1; and what changes have now been made in the cash limit on this Vote in 1983–84.
§ Mr. WhitneyExpenditure in 1982–83 was £220,135,947. This was £1,245,947 more than the reduced cash limit of £218,890,000. The excess was caused by sudden adverse exchange rate movements in the final quarter of the financial year. The figures included in the White Paper on the provisional outturn for 1982–83—Cmnd. 8987—were based on the latest forecast for FCO net expenditure. Because receipts were also higher than predicted in the Estimates, and net expenditure was some £3.7 million below the revised cash limit, it was not immediately apparent that the cash limit had been136W breached. In accordance with normal practice, the amount of the overspend in 1982–83 has been deducted from the cash limit on Class II, Vote 1, for 1983–84.
My right hon. and learned Friend has also approved the purchase of the freehold interest of Hanslope park, the main site of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's communications division, for £2,650,000 following an offer from the landlords to sell in the current financial year. The purchase is to be made by the Property Services Agency on behalf of the FCO and as a result there is to be a cash limit reduction on Class II, Vote 1, of £2,650,000 and a corresponding increase on PSA's Class XIV, Vote 3.
The effect of these two adjustments to the Class II, Vote 1, cash limit is to reduce it from £329,510,000 to £325,614,000. The Class XIV, Vote 3, cash limit is increased from £152,296,000 to £154,946,000; this increase can be accommodated within the existing voted provision.