HC Deb 04 November 1996 vol 284 cc313-4W
Sir Anthony Durant

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed in his departmental cash limits for 1996–97. [2642]

Mr. Douglas Hogg

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class III, vote 1, section B—the Intervention Board executive agency—will be increased by £7,641,000 from £56,817,000 to £64,458,000. The increases are to cover the administration costs associated with the implementation of emergency measures to protect against bovine spongiform encephalopathy in the United Kingdom for expenditure on IT services. The running costs cash limit will be increased by £3,350,000 from £36,818,000 to £40,168,000. Agents' services will be increased by £4,291,000 from £18,427,000 to £22,718,000. The supplementary will also give partial effect to the running costs end flexibility entitlement of £2,814,000 announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 July 1996,Official Report, columns 326–31. At this stage it is proposed to take up £565,000 of this increase to cover expenditure on IT systems.

The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class III, vote 2—Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food: operational expenditure, agencies and departmental administration—will be increased by £5,057,000 from £911,318,000 to £916,375,000. The £5,057,000 relates mainly to the take-up of capital end-year flexibility entitlement of £5,189,000 as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 July 1996, Official Report, columns 326–31.

The following departmental transfers are also included; to the Scottish Office, administration (class XIII vote 6) £20,000 BSE-related running costs and £255,000 research and development expenditure, and from the Security Facilities Executive and the Property Advisers to the Civil Estate, £143,000 running costs.

The gross running costs limits for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will decrease by £2,806,000 from £354,768,000 to £351,962,000.

The increase in the vote total will be offset by savings or charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.