HC Deb 09 November 2000 vol 356 cc340-1W
Mrs. Lawrence

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes are proposed to his Department's departmental expenditure limits and running costs limits for 2000–01. [138054]

Dawn Primarolo

Subject to Parliamentary approval of the necessary Supplementary Estimates for Class XVI, Vote 1 (HM Treasury) and Class XVI, Vote 3 (HM Treasury: Office of Government Commerce), the Departmental Expenditure Limit for 2000–01 will be increased by £17,230,000 from £246,793,000 to £264,023,000.

The increase for Class XVI, Vote 1 (HM Treasury) is the net effect of the take up of end-year flexibility (EYF) of £1,000,000 comprising £980,000 for other current provision and £20,000 for capital, and provides for the drawing of £1,300,000 from the Capital Modernisation Fund for the continuing costs associated with the setting up for Partnerships UK; and an increase in running costs of £541,000 to draw down the monies allocated from the Civil Service Modernisation Fund. The running costs limit for HM Treasury will accordingly be increased by £541,000 from £63,523,000 to £64,064,000.

The increase for Class XVI, Vote 3 (HM Treasury: Office of Government Commerce) is the net effect of the take up of EYF for PACE of £15,000,000 comprising £14,175,000 other current provision and £825,000 for running costs for expenditure related to the disposal of vacant property; the take up of EYF for CCTA of £797,000 comprising £686,000 other current provision and £111,000 for capital due to costs related to increased business; an increase in running costs of £325,000 to draw down the monies allocated from the Civil Service Modernisation Fund for OGC Headquarters; and a reduction in other current provision to record two transfers, of £663,000 for the cost of ownership of Harmsworth House to Class IV, Vote 3 (Charity Commission), and of £1,070,000 for the cost of ownership of Fleetbank House to Class IX, Vote 8 (Office of Fair Trading). As a result of take up of £825,000 EYF and drawing down £325,000 from the Civil Service Modernisation Fund, the running costs limit for HM Treasury Office of Government Commerce will accordingly be increased by £1,150,000 from £23,402,000 to £24,552,000.

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