HC Deb 04 February 1994 vol 236 c960W
Mr. Cyril D. Townsend

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further changes he proposes to make in his Department's diplomatic wing cash limits and running cost limits for 1993–94.

Mr. Goodlad

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the following changes will be made.

The cash limit for class II, vote 1—overseas representation—will be reduced by £2,027,000 from £818,609,000 to £816,582,000.

The gross running costs limit on class II, vote 1 will be reduced by £10,228,000 from £579,877,000 to £569,649,000 following a transfer of provision to class II, vote 2 and vote 4.

The cash limit for class II, vote 2—other external relations—will be increased by £100,827,000 from £301,230,000 to £402,057,000. The increase will be met by underspends of £.2 million on vote 1, by underspends of £1.8 million on vote 2 and by increased appropriations in aid. The balance will be charged to the reserve.

The cash limit for class II, vote 4—the British Council —will be increased by £4,636,000 in respect of adverse foreign currency movements—£2,636,000—and restruc-turing costs—£2,000,000. The amounts will be met by a claim on the reserve and by underspends on vote 1 respectively.

As the increases will be offset by savings and charges to the reserve, they will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.