HC Deb 11 February 1999 vol 325 cc338-9W
Miss Melanie Johnson

To ask the Prime Minister what proposals he has to change the Cabinet Office security and intelligence services cash limits for 1998–99. [71262]

The Prime Minister

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate, the cash limit for Class XVIII, Vote 2 will be increased by £1,880,000 from £707,906,000 to £709,786,000 and the gross running costs limit increased by £3,059,000 from £375,993,000 to £379,052,000.

This change is to take on board transfers of; £310,000 to the Scottish Office Class XIII, Vote 5; £3,500,000 to the Inland Revenue Class XVI, Vote 4; take up of running costs end year flexibility of £5,690,000 as announced by the Chief Secretary of the Treasury on 14 July 1998, Official Report, columns 131–36.

There will be an increase in Appropriation in Aid of £14,495,000 resulting from changes in accounting procedures and a net increase in other current expenditure payments of £25,878,000.

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