§ Mr. SykesTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1995–96 cash limit and running costs limit for the Office of Public Service. [40940]
§ Mr. FreemanSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of Public Service—class XVIII, vote 1—will be increased by £1 million from £52,713,000 to £53,713,000 and the gross running cost limit will be decreased by £4,019,000 from £82,849,000 to £78,830,000. The changes are to reflect the machinery of government changes announced on 5 July 1995; the Office of Science and Technology being transferred to the Department of Trade and Industry; and the deregulation unit and competitiveness division being transferred from the Department of Trade and Industry—class IV, vote 1. The opportunity has also been taken to take up capital end year flexibility transferred from Her Majesty's Treasury—class XVII, vote 1—due to adjustment in the timing of completion of the pension administration system. Provision is also made for the privatisation expenses of executive agencies. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.