§ Mr. Patrick ThompsonTo ask the President of the Board of Trade, what changes are proposed in the 1992–93 cash limit and running costs limit for the Office of Gas Supply.
§ Mr. HeseltineSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit on the office of Gas Supply vote (class V vote 8) will be increased by £262,000 to £3,203,000. The increase provides for the estimated additional costs incurred by the Office in overseeing the development and implementation of a new gas transportation and storage regime, in the referral of British Gas to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission and in the urgent relocation of the Office of Gas Supply to larger premises. In addition receipts under section 8 of the Gas Act 1986 have been reclassified from appropriations in aid to extra receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund. As a consequence of this the running costs limit has increased by £88,000 to £2,783,000. These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.