§ Mr. Quentin DaviesTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he can announce any changes to the defence cash limits for 1991–92.
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§ Mr. Tom KingSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary summer supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made:
Defence cash limits £'000s Class and vote Current cash limit Change Revised cash limit I, 1 10.203,592 +256,740 10,460,332 I, 2 8,680,982 + 868,841 9,549,823 I, 3 1,615,717 +4,630 1,620,347 I, 5 487,395 +26,523 513,918 These changes, which increase the block defence cash limit by £1,156,734,000 from £22,875,780,000 to £24,032,514,000, are principally to cover increased expenditure identified so far arising from the United Kingdom military commitment in the Gulf area, and its related effect on other parts of the defence programme. This increase is within the estimate of about £.1.5 billion announced by my right hon. and learned Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 18 April 1991 at column 558. The increase in defence provision for 1991–92 will be charged to the Reserve and will therefore not add to the planned total of public expenditure. This increase will be offset by the cash contributions from other Governments expected to be received in this financial year.