HC Deb 24 July 1986 vol 102 cc336-7W
Mr. Powley

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if any changes will be made to the cash limits on his Department's Votes for 1986–87; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Eggar

The cash limit on class II, vote 6 relating to expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration on overseas aid administration will be reduced by £161,000 from £27,262,000 to £27,101,000. This is to compensate for over-expenditure of £161,000 in 1985–86 and follows the standard practice whereby an excess over the cash limit in one year is deducted from the cash limit in the next year. The excess occurred because departmental running costs, mainly on pay and agency payments, were greater than expected on the basis of previous expenditure patterns at the end of the year. The Administration has reviewed its monitoring and control procedures in order to improve its cash limits control.