§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is proposed to change the cash limit on any departmental Vote for which he has responsibility.
§ Mr. JoplingYes. Following underspending on a number of services, the cash limit for class III, vote 4 471W (Other Agricultural and Food Services and Support for the Fishing Industry) is being reduced by £600,000 from £144,683,000 to £144,083,000 and that for class III, vote 5 (Departmental Research, Advisory Services and Administration) by £500,000 from £207,248,000 to £206,748,000. These reductions are in addition to the savings I announced on 12 December, at column 728, in reply to the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Davies) and together they will partly offset increased expenditure, subject to parliamentary approval, of £20,296,000 on class III vote 3 (Agricultural Support, Animal Health, Land Drainage and Flood Protection) which is not subject to a cash limit and for which a supplementary estimate will be presented to Parliament shortly. The balance of this increase not covered by offsetting savings will be charged to the Reserve, and there will therefore be no net addition to the planning total of public expenditure.