§ Mr. DonohoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what changes he intends to make to the cash limits and running costs provision for 1998–99 within his responsibility. [76565]
§ Mr. DewarSubject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary revised Supplementary Estimates, I intend to make changes to 2 voted cash limits and 1 non-voted cash block. These changes are in addition to the amounts I announced in my written answer to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Pentlands (Dr. Clark), on 11 February 1999,Official Report, columns 372–74.
368WThe cash limit for Class XIII, Vote 3, Education, industry, arts and libraries, Scotland will be increased by a net total of £5,404,000 from £1,704,433,000 to £1,709,837,000. The net increase takes account of additional provision to be made available for books for schools, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his Budget statement, 9 March 1999, Official Report, columns 173–90.
The cash limit for Class XIII, Vote 5, Law, order and protective services, police grant and social work services, Scotland will be increased by £1,015,000. The cash limit has been increased by £1,015,000 from £677,087,000 to £678,102,000. The cash limit increase takes account of £830,000 for costs associated with the Lockerbie Trial in the Netherlands and £185,000 to meet the costs of training Returning Officers for the Scottish Parliamentary Elections.
The increases will be offset by transfers or charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.