Cash and Running Costs Limits (Hansard, 1 November 1994)

§ Mr. Hendry
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes will be made to his Department's cash limits and running costs limit for 1994–95.

§ Mr. Heseltine
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class IV, vote 1—support for business, consumer and investor protection, energy programmes and administration—will be increased by £12,525,000 from £1,173,077,000 to £1,185,602,000.
The gross running costs limit for the Department of Trade and Industry is being increased by £14,217,000 from £328,000,000 to £342,217,000. This change comprises the take-up of £14,549,000 in running costs end-year flexibility as approved by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July, Official Report, columns 729-34, and the transfer from Her Majesty's Treasury, class XVII, vote 1, of £3,000, offset by machinery of government transfers to the Department of Transport, class VI, vote 2, of £110,000, Office of the Rail Regulator, class VI, vote 8, of £197,000 and Oftel, class IV, vote 10, of £28,000.
There are some other changes in the allocation of provision. These include a reduction in provision of £1,500,000 on support for business reflecting a forecast underspend and a new provision of £1,795,000 on privatisation and contractorisation of DTI laboratories, the balance being made up by a transfer of £295,000 from other services. They also include the transfer of £740,000 to the Scottish Office and £1,194,000 to the Welsh Office in respect of industrial programmes.
In addition, subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class IV, vote 4, privatisation of the coal industry, will be increased by £3,402,000 from £12,495,000 to £15,897,000. The increase covers additional costs of privatisation advisers' fees.

§ Mr. David Shaw
To ask the President of the Board of Trade what changes will be made to the cash limits and running costs limits for the Office of Electricity Regulation, Office of Gas Supply and Office of Telecommunications.

§ Mr. Heseltine
Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class IV, vote 10, Office of Telecommunications will be1026W increased by £299,000 from £9,059,000 to £9,358,000 and the gross running costs limit by £299,000 from £8,627,000 to £8,926,000. The increase includes the take-up of running costs end-year flexibility of £171,000 as announced by the Chief Secretary on 14 July 1994, Official Report, columns 729£34, and increased provision for personnel services. The increase will be offset by transfers from the Department of Trade and Industry, class IV, vote 1, £28,000, and Office of Electricity Regulation, class IV, vote 12, £100,000.
The cash limit for class IV, vote 11, Office and Gas supply, will be increased by £100,000 from £4,424,000 to £4,524,000. The increase is required for refitting and equipping new offices. The increase will be offset by a transfer from the Office of Electricity Regulation, class IV, vote 12, £100,000.
As a consequence of the above, the cash limit for class IV, vote 12, Office of Electricity Regulation, class IV, vote 12, will be reduced by £200,000 from £10,871,000 to £10,671,000. The gross running costs limit will be reduced by £200,000 from £11,603,000 to £11,403,000.
These changes are offsetting or charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.