HC Deb 04 February 1994 vol 236 cc969-70W
Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to change the 1993–94 cash limit of running costs limit for the Office of Public Service and Science.

Mr. Waldegrave

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for the Office of Public Service and Science—class XVIII, vote 1 —will be increased by £90,000 from £73,508,000 to £73,598,000 and the gross running cost limit will also be increased by £90,000 from £90,568,000 to £90,658,000. This takes account of a transfer from the Department of Trade and Industry—class IV, vote 1—of £12,000 in respect of the running costs of the Link secretariat which is being transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry to the Office of Public Service and Science. In addition, £78,000 in respect of maintenance charges is being transferred from Property Holdings—class VII, vote 6. The increase is offset by transfers from other Government Departments and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Mr. Patrick Thompson

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes are proposed to the cash and running costs limit in the year 1993–94 in respect of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and health service commissioners.

Mr. Waldegrave

As announced in the Government's White Paper on open government published in July 1993, there will be a major extension to the responsibilities of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration from 4 April 1994. From that date, complaints that Government Departments and certain other bodies have unreasonably refused access to information in contravention of the code of practice proposed in the White Paper may be referred to the commissioner. In preparation for this work, the commissioner has sought a supplementary estimate for 1993–94 for additional staff and to make accommodation and other resources available for them.

The supplementary estimate also covers additional staff, their accommodation and administrative costs to match the increasing work loads for the Parliamentary Commissioner for Adminstration and health service commissioners as more complaints are being referred by MPs and received direct from members of the public.

The increased provision sought reflects the fact that the main functions of the office of the parliamentary commissioner and health service commissioners are demand led. Accordingly the cash limit for the office has been increased to £5,123,000.

Parliamentary approval of this additional expenditure will be sought in a supplementary estimate for the office of the parliamentary commissioner and health service commissioners—class XIX, vote 4—of £659,000.