§ Mr. David MartinTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there are any proposed changes in the cash-limited programme expenditure of his Department for 1991–92.
§ Mr. ScottSubject to parliamentary approval on the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class XIV vote 3 (housing benefit administration and community charge benefit administration, and other grants) will be increased by £32,918,000 from £292,625,000 to £325,543,000. The revision takes account of a transfer from class XIV vote 4 (Administration and Miscellaneous Services) for housing benefit administration and community charge benefit administration costs (£1,070,000), an increase in the grant towards Motability's administrative costs (£38,000), an increase in the grant-in-aid to Motability to help with high cost car adaptations for war pensioners (£60,000) and an increase in the subsidies to local authorities for housing benefit administration (£1,750,000). There is also an increase in payments into the social fund to finance budgeting loans, crisis loans and community care grants (£30,000,000). The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
§ Mr. ThurnhamTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security whether there are any proposed changes in the cash limits or running costs limit of his Department for 1991–92.
§ Mr. ScottSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate the cash limit for class XIV, vote 4 (Administration and Miscellaneous Services) will be increased by £19,789,000 from £1,881,428,000 to £1,901,217,000. The revision takes account of increased requirements to meet the additional administrative expenditure arising from higher unemployment (£34,736,000), additional expenditure within the child support unit (£4,000,000), an increase in Agency Payments to Department of Employment (class VI, vote 2) (£5,000,000), £2,434,000 in respect of the end of the year flexibility arrangements for capital expenditure, a transfer to Housing Benefit Administration (class XIV, vote 3) of £1,070,000, a transfer to Department of Health (class XIII, vote 3) of £69,000 and a transfer from Inland Revenue (class XVIII, vote 6) of £76,000. The additional requirements are partially offset by an increase in receipts152W of £25,318,000 and the balance is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
In addition to the running cost increases of £35,213,000 included above there is a transfer to Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) of £445,000 for the running costs of the Belfast Social Security Centre. There will be a corresponding increase on Department of Health and Social Services (Northern Ireland) vote 3 Administration and Miscellaneous Services. Also a reduction of £677,000 to take account of a variation from a previously anticipated outturn of expenditure.
As a result of these changes the running cost limit of the Department of Social Security will be increased by £34,091,000 from £2,115,817,000 to £2,149,908,000.