HC Deb 05 November 1999 vol 337 c331W
Mr. Touhig

To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if there are any proposals to amend the Welsh Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000. [97785]

Mr. Paul Murphy

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XIV, Vote 1 (the Welsh Office, the Wales Office and the National Assembly for Wales) the Welsh Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £124,972,000 from £7,092,517,000 to £7,217,489,000. The increase is the result of:

  1. i) Net transfers of £7,866,000 from other Government Departments as detailed from vi) to x);
  2. ii) A £14,700,000 increase in the provision for Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances;
  3. iii) Provision of £235,000 for the Auditor General for Wales;
  4. iv) An increase in provision of £4,300,000 as a result of the Dearing Review of Higher Education, and
  5. v) The take up of end-year flexibility entitlement of £97,871,000.

There is also an increase in the provision for Welfare to Work of £923,000 as a result of the take up of end-year flexibility entitlement of £789,000. For further information relating to end-year flexibility see the answer given on 27 July 1999, Official Report, column 393. There is a further transfer of £134,000 from Class 1, Vote 3.

The increase will be offset by transfers from:

  1. vi) Class II, Vote 1 (£7,487,000);
  2. vii) Class III, Votes 2 and 3 (£298,000);
  3. viii) Class VII, Vote 1 (£50,000);
  4. ix) Class XIII, Vote 1 (£-73,000); and
  5. x) Class X, Vote 1 (£104,000).

The balance will be met by a charge on the Departmental Expenditure Limit Reserve for the take-up of the end-year flexibility entitlement, the increase in Hill Livestock Compensatory Allowances and the Dearing moneys and will not, therefore, add to the planned total of public expenditure.

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