HC Deb 05 July 1995 vol 263 cc206-7W
Mr. Morgan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer pursuant to his answer of 9 June,Official Report, column 339, if he will list the agreed specific delegation level agreed with each Department for authorising extra statutory payments. [28663]

Mr. Heathcoat-Amory

[holding answer 15 June 1995]: The existing specific delegation levels agreed with the main Departments for authorising extra statutory and extra regulationary payments are set out. The limits reflect a number of considerations, including the nature of the payments that are likely to occur on a particular Department's programme and whether satisfactory ground rules can be agreed for dealing with them. The limits are kept under regular review.

Department Delegation
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Full delegation
Cabinet Office (including OPSS) £5,000
Crown Prosecution Service Full delegation
Customs and Excise Full delegation
Ministry of Defence £250,000
Department for Education 1Full delegation
Department of Employment £5,000
Department of Environment —Local Government £10,000
—Housing and other Environmental Services £25,000
Export Credit Guarantee Department £250,000
Foreign and Commonwealth Office £5,000
Home Office (including prisons) £20,000
Department of Health (including NHS Executive) 2Range from no delegation to full delegation depending on nature of expenditure item concerned.
Inland Revenue Full delegation
Intervention Board £100,000
Department Delegation
Lord Chancellor's Department. Full delegation
Department of National Heritage £25,000
Northern Ireland Office £50,000
Overseas Development Administration £5,000
Property Holdings No delegation
Property Services Agency Services No delegation
Scottish Office Range from £750 to full delegation depending on programme.
Department of Social Security 3£250,000
Department for Trade and Industry No delegation
Department of Transport
—National Roads £300,000
—Other £1,000
Treasury £1,000
Welsh Office Range from no delegation to full delegation depending on programme.

Notes

1 Except on teachers' superannuation.

2 Except payments made under Section 5(3) of the NHS Act 1977.

3 Except the Child Support Agency.