PMQT Written Answers – 1 November 1996

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 1st November 1996.

PRIME MINISTER:

Cabinet Office (Cash Limits)

Mr. Key: To ask the Prime Minister what proposals there are to change the 1996-97 cash limit or running cost limit for the Cabinet Office: other services vote.

The Prime Minister: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit of the Cabinet Office: other services, class XVIII, vote 1, will be increased by £4,354,000 from £37,682,000 to £42,036,000 and the running cost limit will be increased by £2,567,000 from £40,586,000 to £43,153,000.

The increases reflect the transfer of provision of £645,000–running costs–and £1,457,000–capital–from the Office of the Public Service, class XVII, vote 1, to cover the cost of new repayment services; the transfer of certain administrative functions, the OPS’s contribution to the cost of early staff departures and new IT systems and the increase of £70,000 in both running costs and receipts to account for staff loaned to Inland Revenue on repayment terms.

The increases also include the transfer of provision of £105,000–running costs–and £400,000–capital–from the reserve to fund new services and essential building works.

The vote is eligible for a cash limit increase of £1,788,000 in respect of end-year flexibility for running costs expenditure. The supplementary estimate will give effect to £1,738,000 of the increase.

All the increases are either offset by interdepartmental transfers or have been charged to the reserve and will not therefore add to the planned total of public expenditure.