HC Deb 23 February 1998 vol 307 cc96-8W
Mr. Dawson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed to his Department's Cash Limit for Class III Vote 1, Intervention Board Executive Agency, for 1997–98. [30378]

Dr. John Cunningham

Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for Class III, Vote 1 (Intervention Board—Executive Agency: CAP market support and administration) will be increased by £10,890,000 from £118,865,000 to £129,755,000. The increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the total public expenditure. The Vote 1 supplementary will give effect to full take up of the running costs end-year flexibility of £4,062,000 and the capital end year flexibility of £842,000 announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 17 July 1997,Official Report, columns 245–50. The supplementary estimate also reflects an increase of the running costs limit by £7,063,000 from £55,085,000 to £62,148,000.

Mr. Dawson

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes are proposed to his Department's Cash Limit for Class III Vote 2, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, for 1997–98. [30377]

Dr. John Cunningham

Subject to Spring Supplementary Estimate being agreed by Parliament, the cash limit for Class III, Vote 2 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food) for 1997–98 will be reduced by £15,746,000 from £739,802,000 to £724,056,000. This reduction is accounted for by a net cash limit reduction of £14,000,000 in BSE-related provision, transfers of £983,000 to OST Class IV Vote 2 for staff restructuring at Horticulture Research International and £60,000 to DETR Class VI Vote 3 for enforcing the Nitrate Action Programme, a reduction of £933,000 arising from transfers within the Vote, and a transfer of £230,000 from WOAD Class XIV Vote 3 for Veterinary Field Service accommodation in Wales. The net effect on our gross running cost limit is a reduction of £8,566,000 from £339,292,000 to £330,726,000 which reflects a switch of £8,796,000 BSE-related provision from running costs to programme expenditure, and the transfer in of £230,000 running costs from WOAD.