PMQT Written Answers – 27 October 1995

Below is the text of the written answers relating to Prime Minister’s Question Time from 27th October 1995.

PRIME MINISTER:

Cash and Running Costs Limits

Mr. Sumberg: To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1995-96 cash limit or running costs limit for the Cabinet Office: Other Service vote.

The Prime Minister: Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Cabinet Office: Other Services (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by £2,999,000 from £37,749,000 to £40,748,000. At the same time the running costs limit will be increased by £2,772,000 from £40,895,000 to £43,667,000.

The increases reflect the residual transfer of running costs provision for central services previously funded by Her Majesty’s Treasury: administration (class XVII, vote 1) (£272,000) following the machinery of government changes announced on 16 December 1994. The vote is eligible for an increase of £2,747,000 in respect of end-year flexibility for running costs expenditure as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 15 July 1995, Official Report, columns 776-82. The supplementary estimate gives effect to £1,500,000 of this increase.

The vote is also eligible for a cash limit increase of £1,227,000 in respect of end year flexibility arrangements for capital expenditure as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 14 July 1995, Official Report, column 776-82. This supplementary estimate gives effect to the increase.

Some £1,000,000 will be transferred from capital into running costs.

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