HC Deb 26 January 1989 vol 145 cc725-6W
Sir Hector Monro

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make any further changes to the cash limits for 1988–89 within his responsibility.

Mr. Rifkind

Yes. I intend to make changes to seven of the cash limits within my responsibility.

As a result of expected savings on a number of services, the cash limit for Class XVI vote 2, has been decreased by £1,500,000 from £78,042,000 to £76,542,000. This reduction will partly offset an increase to Class XVI vote 7, local transport, water sewerage and environmental services, Scotland which is non-cash limited, and which will be used to meet the costs arising from the Lockerbie air disaster. In addition the cash limit for Class XVI vote 3, regional and general industrial support, Scotland will be decreased by £1 million from £134,954,000 to £133,954,000, also partly to offset the increase to Class XVI vote 7. The cash limit for Class XVI vote 10 will also be reduced by £1 million from £4 million to £3 million to offset the increase to Class XVI vote 7.

The cash limit for Class XVI vote 11 will be reduced by £150,000 from £27,775,000 to £27,625,000. This is due to later than anticipated occupation of two courthouses following completion of new building and restoration work and will partially offset increased expenditure of £1,675,000 on Class XVI, vote 13 which is non-cash limited.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, there will be an increase of £90,000 in the cash limit for Class XVI Vote 14, prisons, hospitals and community health services etc, Scotland from £1,889,706,000 to £1,889,796,000 to fund the Scottish Health Education Group's winter warmth campaign. This increase will be offset by a reduction of £90,000 in the cash limit for Class XVI Vote 15, education, arts, libraries and social work, Scotland from £198,589,000 to £198,499,000.

The cash limit for the Scottish Office administration Vote, Class XVI Vote 21 is being reduced by £4,000 from £120,198,000 to £120,194,000 as a result of a transfer of costs for recruitment under the direct entry grade 7 competition 1988 offset by a corresponding increase in the Office of the Minister of the Civil Service, Class XX Vote 1.

As a result of these changes there will be no addition to the planned total of public expenditure.

In addition, the running costs limits for the Scottish Office will be reduced by £96,000 from £195,044,000 to £194,948,000 and for the Scottish Courts Administration by £150,000 from £22,986,000 to £22,836,000.