§ Mr. Gwilym JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for class XVI, votes 5 and 8 in 1990–91.
§ Mr. David HuntYes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 5 will be increased by £495,000 from £317,330,000 to £317,825,000 and the cash limit for class XVI, vote 8 will be increased by £11,125,000 from £951,713,000 to £962,838,000.
The addition to class XVI, vote 5 largely covers (i) an increase of £245,000 in respect of discretionary assistance for higher education students, particularly those facing high accommodation costs, and (ii) payments to flood appeal funds in north Wales (£150,000), as announced on 15 March 1990, Official Report, at column 348.
The remainder of the increase for class XVI, vote 5 (£100,000) and the increase for class XVI, vote 8 (£11,125,000) follow the decision to implement the recommendations of the review bodies for nursing staff, midwives, health visitors and professions allied to medicine and on doctors' and dentists' remuneration, as announced by the Prime Minister on 1 February 1990 at column 260.
The increase to class XVI, vote 5, in respect of the contribution to the north Wales flood appeal funds was offset by savings from class XVII, vote 5 in 1989–90. The other increases will be charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.