Cash Limits (Hansard, 2 November 1998)

§ Mr. Dewar

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, I intend to make changes to 7 voted cash limits, 3 non-voted cash blocks and 6 running cost limitsThe cash limit for class XIII, vote 2, Local Government, housing, transport, other environmental services and European Funds, Scotland will be increased by a net total of £100,128,000 from £5,490,737,000 to £5,590,865,000. The net increase reflects a 325W transfer of £24,000 from class V, vote 1 for energy efficiency; £70,100,000 for the redemption of Scottish Homes debt from HM Treasury; additional provision of £1,305,000 for Other Environmental Services which is offset by additional appropriations in aid of £615,000 and a transfer from SO/LA1; additional provision for P&O Ferry Services and Caledonian MacBrayne's piers and harbours work of £2,170,000 reflecting take up of end year flexibility; an additional £4,250,000 for Caledonian MacBrayne's capital grant; a net increase of £1,250,000 for Historic Scotland reflecting take-up of end-year flexibility and transfer to class XIII vote 6; an increase in provision of £6,860,000 for revenue support grant for education (higher still) and childcare from class XIII, vote 3 and also includes £2,730,000 for AEF guarantee funding which is a claim on the Reserve; an increase of £190,000 for the Council Tax Collection and Relief Scheme from SO/LA1; a reduction of provision for Highlands and Islands Airports of £3,000,000 which has been transferred to class XIII, vote 6; the addition of £2,670,000 for Welfare to Work; Childcare transferred from class XIII, vote 3; and the addition of £14,924,000 for grants under the Capital Receipts Initiative transferred from SO/CRI. The cash limit for class XIII, vote 3, Education, industry, arts and libraries, Scotland, will be reduced by £2,815,000 from £1,699,322,000 to £1,696,507,000. The reduction takes account of transfers of £180.000 from class IX, vote 1 in respect of the Scottish Qualifications Authority: £6,806,000 from class XIII, vote 4 for the University of Edinburgh Medical School; £27,000 from class XIII, vote 6 for the National Museum of Scotland; £40,000 from class VI, vote 3 for energy efficiency promotional material and £445,000 from class IX, vote 1 for the Scottish University for Industry. Further additions have been made amounting to £513,000 respect of access to the National Galleries of Scotland and additional administration costs arising from the mis-selling of pensions and £153,000 under the end year flexibility arrangements. A total of £6,800,000 has been transferred to class XIII, vote 2 in respect of Higher Still and the provision, planning and development of childcare by local authorities with £2,000,000 being transferred to SO/LA1 in respect of advanced factory provision. In addition, £2,179,000 has been given up to the Reserve following a cash limit breach in 1997–98. The cash limit for class XIII, vote 4, Hospital, community health, family health, other health services and welfare food, Scotland, will be increased by a net total of £83,957,000 from £3,913,650,000 to £3,997,607,000. The increase includes £86,323,000 reflecting the take up of end year flexibility; a transfer of £369,000 from class XI, vote 2 for the cost of services provided by the Medical Devices Agency which were previously funded on a UK basis; a transfer of £6,806,000 to class XIII, vote 3 to meet the essential capital costs of providing teaching facilities as a result of the relocation of Edinburgh University Medical School; a transfer of £20,000 from class XI, vote 1 in respect of patients resident in England who attend a Scottish medical practice; and some adjustments to reflect changes to anticipated appropriations-in-aid. The NHS Trusts' External Financing Limit has also been increased by £11,528,000 from -£24,871,000 to -£13,343,000. The cash limit for class XIII, vote 5 will be increased by £7,953,000 from £663,596,000 to £671,549,000 within which the running costs limit will be increased by £1,567,000 from £147,652,000 to £149,219,000. The cash limit increase includes the take up of EYF entitlements of £3,000,000 under the running costs scheme, £2,000,000 under capital and £1,072,000 under the HPSS scheme. Transfers of £800,000 from class XIII, vote 2 to fund Section 10 grants from ESF, £500,000 from SO/LA1 to fund a new subhead dealing with the Lockerbie trial and £400,000 to fund a new subhead for the millennium volunteers are included. There will also be a number of minor inter and intra-vote transfers. The cash limit for class XIII, vote 6, Scottish Office Administration, will be increased by £11,441,000 from £151,869,000 to £163,310,000. Within this total the running cost provision for Scottish Office Administration is being increased by £9,834,000 as a result of the take up of end-year flexibility and transfers from other votes; the additional running costs provision is required primarily to meet running costs pressures associated with the establishment of the Scottish Parliament. Provision for capital 326W expenditure is being increased by £1,509,000 from £29,521,000 to £31,030,000 as a result of take up of end-year flexibility under the capital scheme and a transfer of £50,000 from class XIII vote 2. This additional provision is required to fund operationally essential IT projects. Provision for other current expenditure is being increased by £98,000 from £4,863,000 to £4,961,000 to finance IT software purchases by the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland. The cash limit for class XIII, vote 7, General Register Office for Scotland, will be decreased by £100,000 from £5,577,000 to £5,477,000. Within this total the running cost limit will be decreased by £200,000 to £5,477,000. Within this total the running cost limit will be decreased by £200,000 from £7,703,000 to £7,503,000 due to a transfer to £100,000 to class XIII, vote 6 and a transfer of £100,000 to capital provision. The increase in capital provision by £200,000 from £380,000 to £580,000 is required to complete a major refurbishment of New Register House and for upgrading IT hardware to ensure year 2000 compliance. Appropriations in Aid have been increased by £100,000 from £2,302,000 to £2,402,000 primarily due to increased demand by the public for access to registration records. The cash limit for class XIII, vote 8, Scottish Record Office, will be increased by £602,000 from £3,470,000 to £4,072,000. Within this total, the running cost provision will be increased by £402,000 from £3,966,000 to £4,368,000 due to the take up of end-year flexibility. This will fund the internal reorganisation of the Department aimed at delivering future efficiency savings. The increase in capital provision of £200,000 from £432,000 to £632,000 resulting from the take up of end-year flexibility will fund the continuing refurbishment work at General Register House and design work being undertaken on Thomas Thomson House, phase 2. The Scottish Office running costs limit will increase by £16,176,000 from £320,315,000 to £336,491,000. The increase results primarily from a transfer of £3,000,000 from class XIII, vote 2, a transfer of £4,000,000 from SO/LA1, a transfer of £1,800,000 from class XVI, vote 4 and the take up of end-year flexibility.

SO/LA1 The non-voted cash limit SO/LA1, which covers non-housing capital expenditure by local authorities will be reduced by a net total of £1,618,000 from £369,295,000 to £367,677,000. The reduction reflects a transfer of £5,583,000 to class XIII, vote 2 covering a range of pressures; £500,000 to class XIII, vote 5 for expenses of the Lockerbie trial; £4,000,000 to class XIII, vote 6 for the Scottish Parliament; an increase of £2,000,000 for Borders assistance from class XIII, vote 3 and take up of end year flexibility of £6,465,000.

SO/CRI The non-voted cash limit SO/CRI, which covers capital expenditure on the Capital Receipts Initiative has been reduced by a net total of £14,300,000 from £43,660,000 to £29,360,000. This reduction reflects a transfer of £14,924,000 to class XIII, vote 2 and take up of end year flexibility of £624,000.

SO/ERDF The non-voted cash limit SO/ERDF, which covers European Regional Development Fund expenditure in Scotland will be increased by a net £57,085,000 from £78,187,000 to £135,272,000 in respect of the take up of end year flexibility and a transfer of £800,000 to class XIII, vote 5.

All increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.