§ Mr. FormanTo ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals there are to change the 1996–97(a) cash limits and running costs limit for the Office of Public Service. [14209]
§ Mr. FreemanSubject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of Public Service, Class XVII, vote 1, will be increased by £4,223,000 from £178,627,000 to £182,850,000 and the gross running cost limit will be increased by £3,485,000 from £82,649,000 to £86,134,000.
The changes reflect the transfer of £687,000 from Cabinet Office other services, Class VXIII, vote 1, in respect of the transfer of responsibility for the superannuation awarding system and accommodation costs, an extra £486,000 to meet the cost of functions remaining in OPS following the sale of the Stationery Office, the Recruitment and Assessment/Services Agency and the Occupational Health and Safety Agency, offset by 387W the take-up of running cost end-year flexibility of £486,000, the transfer of Cabinet Office, other services, class XVIII, vote 2, of £50,000 to fund OPS early departures, and a claim on the reserve of £3,050,000 for the costs falling to OPS of accommodation and the vote balance left after the sale of RAS. This is partially offset by a reduction of £50,000 in the cash limit on the Stationery Office, class XVII, vote 4.
The net running cost limit for the Civil Service College has increased from nil to £300,000. This is the result of lower than expected trading.