Departmental Expenditure Limit (Hansard, 3 February 2000)

§ Mr. Lock

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimate for Class V, Votes 1, 2 and 3 the Lord Chancellor's Department Departmental Expenditure Limit for 1999–2000 will be increased by £26,934,000 from £2,421,244,000 to £2,448,178,000. The increase is the net effect of a transfer for £505,000 from the Department of Social Security relating to the costs of recruiting and re-appointing panel members for Unified Appeals Tribunals; a transfer from the Reserve for £25,000,000 in respect of the additional legal aid costs following implementation of the Narey reforms; a transfer to the Home Office for £200,000 in respect of a contribution towards the costs of the IBIS (Integrating Business and Information Systems) Criminal Justice System Unit; and take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement in the sum of £1,629,000.

The running cost limit for Lord Chancellor's Department Class V, Vote 1 will be increased by £23,167,000 from £502,203,000 to £525,370,000. The increase is in respect of a £380,000 transfer from the Department of Social Security relating to costs in respect of recruiting and re-appointing panel members for the Unified Appeals Tribunals; a £200,000 transfer to the Home Office in respect of a contribution towards the cost of the IBIS Unit; an increase of £695,000 to meet additional costs of the ARAMIS PFI project, an increase of £19,550,000 following reclassification of expenditure as a result of the impact of the changes in ESA 95; and an increase of £2,742,000 following a transfer from other current expenditure to meet the additional costs in respect of Asylum and Immigration.

The running cost limit for Northern Ireland Court Service, Class V, Vote 2 will be increased by £679,000 from £29,960,000 to £30,636,000. The increase is as a result of take up of End Year Flexibility entitlement.

The running cost limit for Public Records Office, Class V, Vote 3 will be increased by £2,908,000 from £25,842,000 to £28,750,000. This increase is as a result of a £900,000 increase funded by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, in respect of a project to microfilm World War One Soldier's documents; a £200,000 increase relating to expenditure on wholesale publishing and book purchases, which is funded by additional wider market receipts generated by retail sales; a £950,000 increase in respect of End Year Flexibility entitlement; a £2,558,000 increase to meet additional costs in respect of Capital Charges on the Civil Estate, and a £1,700,000 reduction following virement into capital expenditure relating to developments in online services.

728W

The increases will be offset by a transfer from the Department of Social Security Departmental Expenditure Limit, a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, and charges on the DEL Reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.