HL Deb 07 February 2000 vol 609 cc55-6WA
Lord Gladwin of Clee

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they have any plans to amend the Lord Chancellor's Department departmental expenditure limit and running costs limits for 1999–2000. [HL883]

The Lord Chancellor

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 ARAMISPFI 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 additonal 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 £30,639,000. 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 soldiers' 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.

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.