HC Deb 31 January 1997 vol 289 cc422-3W
Mr. Matthew Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash limit and net running costs limit for the Government Actuary's Department for 1996–97. [14199]

Mrs. Angela Knight

The net running costs limit for the Government Actuary's Department within class XVI, vote 13, will be decreased by £184,000 from £389,000 to £205,000 and the cash limit will be reduced by £201,000 from £6,396,000 to £6,195,000. The decreases arise from the imposition of penalties following the breaches of the net running costs limit and cash limit in the previous year, 1995–96. The Government Actuary's Department has reported that its systems and procedures have been reviewed to prevent a recurrence of the breach.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed in the cash limit and running cost limit for 1996–97 for Customs and Excise. [14214]

Mr. Oppenheim

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 3, will be increased by £23,050,000 from £827,572,000 to £850,622,000 and the running cost limit for Customs and Excise by £23,057,000 from £720,093,000 to £743,150,000.

The increase in the running cost limit arises from the take up of £23,000,000 of the end-year flexibility entitlement, £30,000 running costs provision transferred from the Department of the Environment to meet the costs of the Security Facilities Executive's advisory service, £29,000 running costs provision transferred from the Home Office as the Department's share of the seized assets fund, and an additional £7,000 related to the recovery of input VAT on other business activities. The supplementary estimate also serves to provide an additional £9,000 from running costs for a contribution to the central drugs co-ordination unit, and £7,000 appropriations-in-aid provision related to the recovery of input VAT on other business activities. The increase will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash limit and running costs limit for the Office for National Statistics for 1996–97. [14215]

Mrs. Knight

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI. vote 12—Office for National Statistics—will be increased by £231,000 from £112,600,000 to £112,831,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £165,000 from £106,939,000 to £107,104,000.

This reflects an increase in running costs provision of £165,000 and in capital provision of £66,000. These sums cover work formerly carried out by the Employment Department which has been transferred to the Office for National Statistics. The increases will be offset by transfers and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Mr. Banks

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the cash limit and running costs limit for 1996–97 for the Inland Revenue. [14216]

Mr. Jack

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVI, vote 4 will be increased by £40,027,000 from £1,607,569,000 to £1,647,596,000 and the running costs limit will be increased by £39,020,000 from £1,654,535,000 to £1,693,555,000.

The vote is eligible for a cash limit increase of £39,000,000 running costs and £507,000 capital in respect of end year flexibility entitlement as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 12 July 1996, Official Report, columns 326–31.

In addition there are transfers of £10,000 running costs from the Office of Public Service, class XVII, vote 1, for advice work on repayment terms by the Security Facilities Executive Agency; £10,000 running costs from Employment Services, class IX, vote 3; and £507,000 capital from the Department of Social Security, class XII, vote 3 as a contribution towards refurbishing St. Peter's house, Doncaster, previously occupied by the Benefits Agency.

All the increases other than those relating to the interdepartmental transfers will be charged to the reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.