HC Deb 01 November 1993 vol 231 cc56-7W
Mr. Madel

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to change the 1993–94 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote.

The Prime Minister

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by £1,901,000 from £22,513,000 to £24,414,000. At the same time, the cash limit will be increassed by £3,321,000 from £18,313,000 to £21,634,000. This increase reflects the residual transfer of certain administrative functions, following the machinery of government changes announced after the general election, and provides for the transfer of certain other administrative functions and the move to repayment for some common service support as follows:

  1. (a) transfer or running costs provision for superannuation awarding services (£1,617,000);
  2. (b) transfer of running costs provision for central services previously funded by Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service and Science (class XVIII, vote 1) which is offset by an inter-vote payment by that department (£16,000);
  3. (c) transfer of running costs provision (£80,000) for central services offset by a reduction on HM Treasury: administration (class XVII, vote 1);
  4. (d) transfer of running costs provision for information services (£249,000) and some central services (£128,000) offset by an increase on Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service and Science (class XVIII, vote 1);
  5. (e) increased appropriations in aid following the transfer of provision for certain central services offset by increases on Department of National Heritage (class XI, vote 7) (£231,000), Central Statistical Office (class XVII, vote 14) (£155,000) and Inland Revenue (class XVII, vote 6) (£12,000).

In addition, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1993, Official Report, cols. 512–17, this vote is eligible for a cash limit increase of £868,000 in respect of the end year flexibility arrangements for capital expenditure. This supplementary estimate gives effect to the increase. All the increases are either offset by inter-departmental transfers or have been charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.