HC Deb 01 February 1996 vol 270 cc856-7W
Mr. Whittingdale

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 1995–96. [13452]

Mr. Hanley

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

The cash limit for class II, vote 1—overseas representation—will be increased by £4,379,000 from £709,165,000 to £713,544,000. The increase is the net effect of take-up of capital end year flexibility entitlement of £14,614,000 less a transfer to class II, vote 2-other external relations—of £10,211,000 and a transfer of £24,000 to the Home Office. The gross running costs limit on class II, vote 1 has been reduced by £10,235,000 from £522,799,00 to £512,564,000 due to the transfers to the Home Office and class II, vote 2 as described.

The cash limit for class II, vote 2—other external relations—will be increased by £176,809,000 from £291,633,000 to £468,442,000. Parliamentary authority will be sought for additional expenditure in respect of certain international organisations and contributions to peacekeeping operations. The increase will be met partly by increased appropriations in aid, partly from a claim on the reserve and partly by offsets from other sections of votes 1 and 2.

The cash limit for class II, vote 3—BBC World Service—will be increased by £3,015,000 from £175,039,000 to £178,054,000. Parliamentary authority will be sought in order to take up an increased capital provision under the end year flexibility scheme. The increase will be met from the reserve.

The cash limit for class II, vote 4—the British Council—will be increased by £4,245,000 from £98,496,000 to £102,741,000 in respect of adverse overseas price movements; to take account of approved end year flexibility and a public expenditure survey transfer from the Welsh Office. Aside from the latter, the increase will be met from the reserve.

All the increases in provision will be offset by appropriations in aid or charged to the reserve, and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.