§ Mr. BowisTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any changes are proposed in the cash limits for the Intervention Board executive unit.
§ Mr. GummerYes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for class III, vote 2 (administration) will be increased by £2,046,000 from £55,042,000 to £57,088,000. Within this limit running costs including VAT recovery will be increased by £117,000 from £28,814,000 to £28,931,000 and capital will be increased by £306,000 from £2,400,000 to £2,706,000 both in respect of end of year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1991 at columns 185–89; agency services will be increased by £1,650,000 from £24,572,000 to £26,222,000, and appropriations in aid, excluding VAT recovery on running costs, will be increased by £27,000. These increases in administration costs reflect Meat and Livestock Commission redundancy costs following the ending of the sheep variable premium scheme offset in part by various savings, and take up of running cost and capital end year flexibility entitlement. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.