HC Deb 05 November 1999 vol 337 cc349-50W
Ms Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the Customs and Excise departmental expenditure limit or running costs limit for 1999–2000. [97918]

Dawn Primarolo

There are currently no plans to change the overall Departmental Expenditure Limit of HM Customs and Excise. However, subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 3 (HM Customs and Excise: administration) the Voted element of the Departmental Expenditure Limit will be increased by £14,270,000 from £897,293,000 to £911,563,000. The increase reflects changes arising from a barter deal transaction associated with the award of a PH contract for the provision of IT services. This increase will be offset by a matching reduction in the non-voted element.

Ms Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the Office for National Statistics departmental expenditure limit/running cost limit for 1999–2000. [97920]

Miss Melanie Johnson

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 11 (Office for National Statistics) the DEL will be increased by £1,000,000 from £110,242,000 to £111,242,000 and the running cost limit by £4,437,000 from £102,208,000 to £106,645,000.

The increase is the net effect of (a) the carry forward of £1,000,000 under the end year flexibility scheme as announced in the House of Commons by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 27 July 1999, Official Report, column 393, and (b) the transfer of £3,437,000 from capital to Running costs due to the implementation of ESA 95 and the 2001 Census Open Options Procurement.

The net increase will be charged to the Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Ms Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to the Treasury's departmental expenditure limit and running costs limits for 1999–2000. [97921]

Dawn Primarolo

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class XVI, Vote 1 (HM Treasury), the Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £6,328,000 from £140,875,000 to £147,203,000.

The increase is the net effect of the take up of running costs EYF (£2,000,000) to meet the additional costs of the Treasury's planned programme of work; capital EYF (£2,328,000) mainly due to an increased requirement for the Debt Management Office's cash management project; and from the Capital Modernisation Fund (£2,000,000) for the costs of examining policy options in relation to the Partnerships UK and for work associated with the passage of the Bill which will establish this new body.

The running costs limit for HM Treasury will accordingly be increased by £11,748,000 from £56,965,000 to £68,713,000. The increase is mainly for work leading to the creation of Partnerships UK and the Office of Government Commerce, a direct recruitment campaign, consultancy costs on the project to refurbish the Treasury Building, the costs of the Public Services Productivity Panel, and a small increase for the Debt Management Office.

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