§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to make changes to the cash limits and running costs limit for 1990–91 within his responsibility.
§ Mr. RifkindYes. I intend to make changes to 15 of the cash limits within my responsibility.
As a result of higher than expected receipts the cash limit on class XV, vote 3, regional and general industrial support, is being reduced by £1,500,000 from £142,216,000 to £140,716,000. This reduction will partially offset increases in other votes.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 6, roads, transport and environmental services Scotland will be increased by £649,000 from £251,342,000 to £251,991,000. This increase includes full take-up of capital under the end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990 at columns 235–38.Provision is also included for advisers' fees arising from the proposed privatisation of passenger transport companies and for a contribution towards the provision of weather radar stations by the Meteorological Office. Both increases are partly offset by corresponding reductions.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 8, housing, Scotland will be increased by £9,381,000 from £306,983,000 to £316,364,000 to increase grant in aid provision to Scottish Homes to compensate for the withdrawal of section 20 status under the VAT Act 1983.
The cash limit for class XV, vote 10, privatisation of the electricity supply industry, Scotland will be reduced by £4,500,000 from £14,000,000 to £9,500,000. This reduction partially offsets increases in other votes.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XV, vote 11, administration of justice, Scotland, will be increased by £125,000 from £42,665,000 to £42,790,000 for full take-up of entitlement of the end-year flexibility for running costs announced on 25 July. Accordingly the running cost cash limit is increased by £125,000 from £31,935,000 to £32,060,000.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XV, vote 14, law, order and miscellaneous health services, Scotland will be increased by £81,000 from £155,246,000 to £155,327,000 reflecting the take-up of part of the end-year flexibility entitlement for running costs of £580,000 announced on 25 July.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XV, vote 15, education, arts, libraries and social work, Scotland will be increased by £2,000,000 from £231,975,000 to £233,975,000 to reflect the full take-up of capital end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XV, vote 18, Scottish Record Office will be increased by £66,000 from £2,967,000 to £3,033,000 to reflect full take-up of capital end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July.
21WSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XV, vote 19, General Register Office for Scotland, will be increased by £50,000 from £7,571,000 to £7,621,000 to reflect the full take-up of running costs end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July. Accordingly the running costs limit will be increased by £50,000 from £8,341,000 to £8,391,000.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XV, vote 21,Scottish Office administration will be increased by £562,000 from £129,590,000 to £130,152,000. Increased provision reflects the take-up of the remainder of the running costs end-year flexibility entitlement of £580,000 announced on 25 July and will cover the costs of additional work undertaken by the Scottish Office Solicitors Office for the Department of Social Security. The expenditure on behalf of DSS will be offset by a corresponding reduction in the cash limit for class XIV, vote 7 and the Department's running costs limit.
As a result of these changes and the take-up of running costs end-year flexibility entitlement on class XV, vote 14 the running costs limit for the Scottish Office will be increased by £643,000 from £221,954,000 to £222,597,000.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XV, vote 22,revenue and rate support grants, Scotland will be increased by £16,540,000 from £2,479,300,000 to £2,495,840,000. This increase will be met from existing but unallocated public expenditure provision.
The cash limit for class XV, vote 26, privatisation of the Scottish Bus Group will be decreased by £40,000 from £348,000 to £308,000. This reduction will partially offset increases in other votes.
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XV, vote 27, hospital and community health services, family practitioner services (part) and other health services, Scotland will be increased by £45,649,000 from £2,056,114,000 to £2,101,763,000 to cover the costs arising from the termination of VAT refunds on construction; to reinstate a reduction applied to health boards in the original estimate; to cover the costs of commitments for GPs' practice staff; for full take-up of capital end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July; and to cover the additional costs of the senior nurses' and midwives' pay award.
The non-voted cash block SO/LA1, which covers non-housing capital expenditure by local authorities, is to be increased by £5,750,000 from £494,117,000 to £499,867,000 to reflect full take-up of £6,000,000 capital end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July and a reduction of £250,000 to offset increases in other votes.
The non-voted cash limit SO/LA2, which covers housing capital expenditure by local authorities and capital expenditure by new towns, will be increased by £17,007,000 from £330,971,000 to £347,978,000. This increase reflects the full take-up of end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July.
These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the Lord Advocate proposes any changes to the Crown Office's cash limit.
22W
§ Mr. RifkindThe cash limit for class X, vote 13 will be increased by £1,512,000 from £26,857,000 to £28,369,000. This is to enable the Crown Office to meet the cost of planned capital works originally provided for in 1989–90 on class XI, vote 14 but which have slipped into 1990–91. Of this increase £1,178,000 comes under end of year flexibility arrangements as announced to the House of Commons by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990 at columns235–38. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.