§ Mr. ButlerTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes will be made to the cash limit and gross running costs limit for the Office of Gas Supply.
§ Mr. EggarSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV, vote 11, Office of Gas Supply, will be increased by £940,000 from £3,006,000 to £3,946,000. The gross running costs limit for the Office of Gas Supply will be increased by £878,000 from £2,953,000 to £3,831,000. The increase provides for the estimated additional costs incurred by the Office in considering the recommendations of the Monopolies and Mergers Commissions' report on British Gas under the Gas Act 1986. Increased provision is sought to cover extra costs due to greater use of consultants, increase in personnel and personnel overheads and change to internal building structure. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.