HL Deb 03 November 1998 vol 594 cc38-9WA
Lord Bruce of Donington

asked Her Majesty's Government:

What changes will be made to the cash limits of the Department of Health in 1998–99. [HL3664]

The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class XI, Vote 1 (Hospital, community health, family health and related services, England) will be reduced by £166,621,000 (from £31,392,213,000 to £31,225,592,000). This allows for a transfer of £220,000,000 following a reappraisal of drugs budget requirements and transfers of £5,000,000 to Class XI Vote 2 (Department of Health administration, miscellaneous health and personal social services, England) for children's services; £30,000 to Class XI, Vote 2 for the United Kingdom Co-ordinating Committee for Cancer Research and £20,000 to Class XIII, Vote 4 (Hospital, community health, family health, other health services and welfare food, Scotland) for general practice fundholders' cross border flows. The overall reduction is partially offset by an increase of £56,000,000 in respect of the take-up of end year flexibility, as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1998 at cols. 131–136, and a transfer of £2,429,000 from Class XI Vote 2 for the Medical Devices Evaluation Service.

The cash limit for Class XI, Vote 2 (Department of Health, administration, miscellaneous health services and personal social services, England) will be increased by £55,873,000 (from £1,096,377,000 to £1,152,250,000). This increase allows for a claim on the Reserve of £53,900,000 to support the persons from abroad children's grant; transfers totalling £5,030,000 from Class XI, Vote 1 as mentioned above; a transfer of £20,000 (running costs) from Class XVII, Vote 1 (Cabinet Office: Office of Public Service) for accommodation costs; a transfer of £11,000 (running costs) from Class XIV, Vote 4 (Hospital, community health, family health services and other health services (part), Wales) for the National Screening Committee. The overall increase is partially offset by transfers totalling £3,075,000 for the Medical Device Evaluation Service made up of transfers to Class XI, Vote 1 as mentioned above (£2,429,000), Class XIII, Vote 4 (Hospital, community health, family health, other health services and welfare food, Scotland) (£369,000), Class XIV, Vote 4 (Hospital, community health, family health services and other health services (part), Wales (£185,000) and to the Department of Health and Social Services, Northern Ireland (£92,000) and a transfer of £13,000 to Class IX, Vote 1 (Department for Education and Employment: programmes and central services) for their responsibility for childcare and early education.

The non-voted cash limit for supplementary credit approvals for personal social services (DoH/LACAP) in England is to be increased by £602,000 from £14,700,000 to £15,302,000 in respect of the take-up of the end year flexibility entitlement as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1998 at columns 131–136.

The Department's gross running cost limit will be increased by £31,000 from £262,915,000 to £262,946,000 as detailed above.

All increases will either be offset by savings, increased receipts or transfers to or from other Votes or charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.