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Written Answers to Questions
Thursday 8 November 1990
DEFENCE
Cash Limits
Mr. Moss : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will announce changes to the defence cash limits and running costs limit for 1990-91.
Mr. Bright : To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will announce any changes to the defence cash limits and running costs limit for 1990-91.
Mr. Archie Hamilton : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made :
(1) Defence Cash Limits
£000s Class and |Current Cash|Increase |Revised Cash vote |limit |limit ----------------------------------------------------------------- I, 1 |8,968,295 |40,000 |9,008,295 I, 2 |8,531,208 |213,389 |8,744,597
These changes, which increase the block defence cash limit by £253,389,000 from £21,332,060,000 to £21,585,449,000, reflect the full take-up of entitlement to carry-forward of capital underspending under the end-year flexibility scheme (announced by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990, Official Report, columns 235-40 ) and additional costs being incurred on the defence budget as a result of the crisis in the Gulf.
The changes also take account of a decrease of £114,799,000 to compensate for an overspend on class I, votes 1, 2, 4 and 5, in 1989-90. This follows the normal practice of reducing the limit for one financial year by the amount of any overspend in the previous year.
(2) Running Costs Limit.
The running costs limit for the Department will be increased by £40,000,000 from £5,232,678,000 to £5,272,678,000. This reflects additional running costs being incurred on the defence budget as a result of the crisis in the Gulf.
The increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
NORTHERN IRELAND
Security
Mr. Patrick Thompson : To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will publish a statement of the Government's security policy in Northern Ireland.
Mr. Brooke : I have today placed copies of a statement of the Government's security policy in Northern Ireland in the Library and the Vote Office. The text is as follows :
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The Government's security policyin Northern Ireland
(a the Government are determined that terrorism will be defeated through the evenhanded and energetic enforcement of the criminal law.
Constitutional Position
1. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom because that is the will of
the majority of people who live there. It will not cease to be a part of the
United Kingdom unless that situation changes. Majority desire for a change in
status clearly does not exist at present. There is no reason to expect this to
alter in the foreseeable future.
Aims and Objectives
2. The Government's aims are:
(a) to maintain the rule of law;
(b) to ensure that all the people of Northern Ireland are free to express their
political opinions without inhibition, fear of discrimination or reprisal;
(c) to defend the democratically expressed wishes of the people of Northern
Ireland against those who try to promote political objectives, including a
change in the status of Northern Ireland, by violence or the threat of
violence;
(d) to create in Northern Ireland the conditions for a just, peaceful and
prosperous society in which local people can exercise greater control over
their own affairs.
3. So that these aims can be achieved, it is the first priority of the
Government in Northern Ireland to eradicate terrorism, from whichever section
of the community it comes. There is no acceptable level of violence and, for so
long as violence continues, it will be met with a firm and resolute response.
Strategy
4. To this end, the Government will:
(a) ensure that the police, supported by the armed forces, have the resources
they need to undertake their difficult and dangerous work on behalf of the
whole community;
(b) provide a legal framework within which the security forces can act to
defeat terrorism;
(c) co-operate closely on security with the Government of the Republic of
Ireland;
(d) seek to isolate the terrorists from the communities within which they
operate.
5. The Government will implement this strategy with total commitment until
terrorism has been defeated in Northern Ireland and the rest of the United
Kingdom.
6. In parallel, the Government will implement effective measures in the
political, social and economic fields, designed to promote equality of
treatment, economic well-being and stable democratic institutions. These
measures will help to create a climate in Northern Ireland in which peaceful
political development can take place, thereby complementing and reinforcing the
Government's security strategy.
7. In accordance with this strategy, which is endorsed by the Chief Constable
of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the General Officer Commanding the Armed
Forces in Northern Ireland:
(a) The Government are determined that terrorism will be defeated through the
evenhanded and energetic enforcement of the criminal law.
(b) The police will continue to take primary responsibility for the prevention,
investigation and securing evidence for the prosecution of crime, including
terrorist crime. The armed forces will act in support of the police, but only
where and when the security situation makes it necessary.
(c) Wherever and whenever possible, the police will operate without military
support, in accordance with the goal of restoring normality, and with the
ultimate aim that all military support to the police should be dispensed with
when the security situation permits.
(d) anti-terrorism legislation will be kept under review, to ensure that it is
appropriate to the prevailing security threat. It will continue to strike a
balance between providing the RUC and armed forces with the legal means they
need in order to protect the community effectively, and at the same time
providing appropriate safeguards for individuals. When the need for a
particular provision no longer exists, it will be repealed or allowed to lapse,
as a step towards greater reliance on the
ordinary criminal law.
(e) The police and armed forces will continue to be governed by the legal
principle of using only such force as is reasonable in the circumstances in
preventing crime and arresting offenders.
(f) Members of the police and armed forces, like all other citizens, will
continue to be subject to the law. If members of the security forces break the
law they will themselves be liable to prosecution.
(g) The public have a right to expect the highest standards of behaviour from
police officers and members of Her Majesty's forces. Activity or actions
falling short of those standards will never be condoned. The Government hope
that anyone who believes that they have a genuine cause for complaint about the
conduct of a police officer or member of the armed forces will use the
procedures which exist for the investigation of such complaints.
8. The Government recognise that, to be fully effective, the actions of the
police and armed forces against terrorism in Northern Ireland require the
support of all sides of the community. The actions of the security forces must,
therefore, at all times be such as to create and maintain confidence in their
integrity and professionalism, as well as in their operational effectiveness.
9. The Government call on men and women of good will from both traditions in
Northern Ireland to co-operate with the security forces as they carry out their
duty to protect the community. Such co-operation may include accepting the
inconvenience which may result from security force operations against
terrorists and reporting crime, including terrorist crime, to the police.
10. The Government believe that confidence between the community and the police
and armed forces can best be achieved if both traditions are properly
represented in the locally recruited forces. Hence the Government believe that
all those who recognise the importance of building and retaining that
confidence have a duty to encourage members of both traditions to co-operate
with and to join those forces.
(g The public have a right to expect the highest standards of behaviour from police officers and members of Her Majesty's forces. Activity or actions falling short of those standards will never be condoned. The Government hope that anyone who believes that they have a genuine cause for complaint about the conduct of a police officer or member of the armed forces will use the procedures which exist for the investigation of such complaints.
8. The Government recognise that, to be fully effective, the actions of the police and armed forces against terrorism in Northern Ireland require the support of all sides of the community. The actions of the security forces must, therefore, at all times be such as to create and maintain confidence in their integrity and professionalism, as well as in their operational effectiveness. 9. The Government call on men and women of good will from both traditions in Northern Ireland to co-operate with the security forces as they carry out their duty to protect the community. Such co-operation may include accepting the inconvenience which may result from security force operations against terrorists and reporting crime, including terrorist crime, to the police.
10. The Government believe that confidence between the community and the police and armed forces can best be achieved if both traditions are properly represented in the locally recruited forces. Hence the Government believe that all those who recognise the importance of building and retaining that confidence have a duty to encourage members of both traditions to co-operate with and to join those forces.
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NATIONAL FINANCE
Cash Limits
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any changes to announce to the 1990-91 running costs limit for the Government Actuary's Department.
Mr. Maples : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the running costs limit for class XVIII, vote 15 will be increased by £60,000 from £3,099,000 to £3,159,000 to provide for new work on insurance supervision on behalf of the Department of Trade and Industry.
The cost of this increase will be recovered from Department of Trade and Industry on repayment and the cash limit for the vote is therefore unchanged.
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit and running costs limit for 1990-91 for the Inland Revenue.
Mr. Maude : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class XVIII, vote 7 will be increased by £26,032,000 from £1,377,913,000 to £1,403,945,000 and the Department's running cost limit by £11,032,000 from £1,316,363, 000 to £1,327,395,000. The increase in running costs reflects the take up of end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990, Official Report, columns 235-40, (£4,987,000), a transfer of £45,000 from the Department of Social Security (administration and miscellaneous) vote (class XIV vote 7) for a computer project setting up a register of pension schemes, and £6,000,000 for publicity consequent on the decision to introduce new arrangements for the taxation of bank and building society interest in 1991-92. The increase in the cash limit also includes £15,000,000 for capital expenditure on accommodation for staff required to operate the new bank and building society arrangements. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is proposing any change to the Central Statistical Office's cash limit or running costs limit for 1990-91.
Mr. Maples : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class XVIII vote 13 will be increased by £1,079,000 from £27,394,000 to £28,473,000 and the running costs limit by £1,018,000 from £21,439,000 to £22,457,000. The increase primarily reflects provision for the package of measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17 May 1990, Official Report, column 484, to improve the quality of the statistics produced by the CSO in three areas--services, companies and balance of payments. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether any changes are proposed in the cash limit and running cost limit for 1990-91 for Customs and Excise.
Mr. Ryder : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class
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XVIII, vote 6 will be increased by £6,936,000 from £640,926,000 to £647,862,000 and the running cost limit for Customs and Excise by £2, 722,000 from £573,077,000 to £575,799,000. The increase in the running cost limit arises from the take-up of full end-year flexibility entitlement announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990, Official Report, columns 235-40, and the costs associated with a programme for the training of overseas customs officers, which are being met from receipts from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (class II, vote 1), the Home Office (class IX, vote 3), and the Overseas Development Administration (class II, vote 5). The increase in the cash limit includes take-up of the full end-year flexibility entitlement for capital expenditure as well as increased legal costs. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.CIVIL SERVICE
Cash Limits
Mr. Hanley : To ask the Minister for the Civil Service if there are any proposals to change the 1990-91 cash limit and the running costs limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service.
Mr. Mellor : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for the Office of the Minister for the Civil Service (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by £662, 000 from £43,621,000 to £44,283,000. The increase will be offset by a reduction in the cash limit for the Cabinet Office : other services (class XIX, vote 2).
The increase is required to cover the cost of providing financial support to other Government Departments in respect of their secondees to European Community institutions ; the salary costs of staff specifically recruited to increase future British representation in European Community institutions ; the cost of an efficiency unit study of ministerial correspondence ; the cost of repairing storm damage to the Civil Service College's premises at Sunningdale Park and the bringing forward of some capital expenditure from the college's 1991-92 building programme. In addition, receipts of interest on loans to the Civil Service Sports Council are to be reclassified from appropriations in aid to extra receipts payable to the Consolidated Fund.
Some of the above changes in provision have a consequent effect on the Department's running costs limit which will be increased by £142, 000 from £33,722,000 to £33,864,000.
The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
Cash Limits
Mr. Mans : To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limit and running cost limits for 1990-91.
Mr. Lilley : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class
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IV, vote 2 (support for industry, international trade, statutory and regulatory work, consumer protection, and administration) will be increased by £14,304,000 from £787,377,000 to £801,681,000. The running costs limit for the Department of Trade and Industry will be reduced by £470,000 from £304,234,000 to £303,764,000.The increase in the cash limit covers a rise in grant-in-aid provision for the English Industrial Estates Corporation from a token £1,000 to £24,758,000 to compensate for a shortfall in income caused by a rescheduling of asset sales. It also covers an increase of £4, 686,000 in departmental capital expenditure for full take-up of the end-year flexibility entitlements announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July, columns 235-38, an increase of £3,000,000 in capital expenditure at the National Engineering Laboratory, increased export promotion expenditure of £5,677,000 partially offset by increased receipts of £1,900,000, increased contributions to the general agreement on tariffs and trade and the International Customs Tariff Bureau of £123,000 made necessary by exchange rate movements, an increase in provision of £3,043,000 to pay for more investigations under the Companies Act and to publicise legislation under the Consumer Protection Act, an increase of £36,000 to reflect a transfer of responsibility from the Department of the Environment for advice provided by the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux on the community charge, and provision of £120,000 for ex-gratia payments to investors in Kingfisher and Dixons following the early release of the Kingfisher/Dixons takeover report. There is also a requirement to offset a shortfall of £500,000 in receipts in relation to contributions to the Universal Postal Union.
These additions are partially offset by reductions of £17,000,000 in respect of collaborative research, £5,000,000 in respect of exceptional projects, £2,000,000 for the inner cities initiative, £1, 000,000 for the consultancy initiatives, £500,000 for consultancies and formal inquiries, in all cases reflecting currently expected levels of demand, and £143,000 for publicity. Running costs provision has been reduced by £15,000 and programme provision reduced by £80, 000 to reflect the transfer of responsibility to the Overseas Development Administration for the International Tropical Timber Organisation. There is a take-up of £217,000 of the £1,524,000 end-year flexibility entitlement on running costs announced on 25 July, cols 235-38. This is offset completely by a delayed reduction in gross running cost provision as a result of the transfer of certain central staff to the Radiocommunications Agency, which is exempt from gross running cost control. A further reduction of £455, 000 reflecting an expected increase in VAT refunds on contracted-out services gives an overall reduction in the running costs limit of £470,000. The increase in VAT receipts is wholly offset by reductions in other receipts for central and miscellaneous services. In addition, the opportunity is being taken to transfer £200,000 of provision between capital expenditure subheads of vote 2 in respect of work being contracted out by the Department on behalf of Companies House executive agency. An increase in expenditure of £817,000 at the Radiocommunications Agency is being fully matched by increased receipts.
These changes are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
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In addition, a supplementary estimate of £4,692,000 is to be sought for class, IV vote 4, Export Credits Guarantee Department : Administration. The cash limit will be increased by £4,692,000 from £40,749,000 to £45,441,000, and the running costs limit by £4,692,000 from £38,800,000 to £43,492,000. This expenditure is not included in the planning total. The supplementary is required to meet additional running costs arising from work to prepare for the privatisation of ECGD's short-term credit insurance operation, announced to the House on 18 December 1989. It was announced in the Gracious Speech that a Bill is to be introduced in the current Session.AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
Cash Limits
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any changes are proposed in the cash limits for the intervention board executive agency.
Mr. Gummer : Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class III, vote 2 (administration) will be increased by £5,009,000 from £37,508,000 to £42,517,000. Within this limit running costs including VAT recovery will be increased by £1,257,000 from £22,091,000 to £23,348, 000 ; capital will be increased by £586,000 of which £304,000 is in respect of end-of-year flexibility as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990, Official Report, columns 235-38 ; agency services will be increased by £3,286,000, and appropriation-in-aid, excluding VAT recovery on running costs, will be increased by £120,000. These increases in administration costs reflect the substantial growth in CAP market support activity, primarily in respect of beef intervention, the initial costs of relocating part of the agency to Newcastle, and take up of the capital end-year flexibility entitlement.
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Agriculture Council
Mr. Andy Stewart : To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the meeting of the Agriculture Council held in Brussels on 5 and 6 November.
Mr. Gummer : I represented the United Kingdom at this meeting together with my hon. Friend the Minister for Trade.
Agreement was reached on a text specifying possible reductions in agricultural support and protection in the context of the current GATT round. This is now being put on the table in Geneva. The text agreed makes only three relatively small changes from that originally proposed by the Commission and if, following negotiations in GATT, its proposals were put into effect, they would represent a significant liberalisation of agricultural markets and trade. A Council statement on the method of implementing the reductions in support and on any accompanying measures which may be adopted as a consequence was also agreed. This fully protects the United Kingdom's right to insist upon measures which are even-handed between member states and between individuals.
Agreement was also reached on the adaptations to the common agricultural policy necessary following German reunification.
TRANSPORT
Cash Limits
Mr. Hunter : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what changes he proposes to make to the 1990-91 cash limit and running costs limit for his Department.
Mr. Parkinson : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limits in class VII will be changed as follows :
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£ thousand
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(a) Take-up of entitlements announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on
25 July 1990, Official Report, columns. 235-40.
(b) Decreases of £7,000,000 in respect of a transfer to the Department of the
Environment non voted cash limit DOE/UA for costs incurred by the Black Country
development corporation in acquiring land for the black country spine road and
£2,200,000 transferred to class VII vote 2 for transport safety campaigns.
(c) Increases of £853,000 to repay accrued interest on compensation awarded to
the United Kingdom in respect of the Amoco Cadiz oil pollution incident; and of
£750,000 to meet the cost of dealing with the Rosebay oil pollution incident in
May 1990. The Rosebay costs are expected to be recoverable in due course. There
is also £358,000 transferred from the Department of the Environment (class VIII
vote 8) in respect of certain running costs.
(d) An increase of £228,000 transferred from class VII vote 2 to cover certain
staff-related costs transferred from my Department to the Driver and Vehicle
Licensing Agency.
(e) Token. Provision has been made to enable certain payments in respect of
transport facilities grants to be made direct to the private sector.
The running costs limit of the Department of Transport has been increased by £1,515,000 from £320,901,000 to £322,416,000. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
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Crossrail, London
Sir John Wheeler : To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what action he has taken to safeguard the east-west crossrail.
Mr. Freeman : Initial safeguarding directions under the Town and Country Planning General Development Order 1988 have been made. These came into force on 5
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November. London Underground and British Rail will be consulting those affected. If need be the initial directions will be amended in the light of those consultations.OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT
Cash Limits
Sir John Stanley : To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes have been made in 1990-91 cash limits for expenditure by the Overseas Development Administration.
Mrs. Chalker : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit on the overseas aid vote (class II vote 5) will be increased by £5,855,000 from £1,471,654,000 to £1,477,509,000. The increase provides for the estimated costs in 1990- 91 of the establishment of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London. This provision is additional to and separate from the resources for the official overseas aid programme for developing countries. The running costs limit for the ODA has also been increased by £305,000 from £33,109,000 to £33,414,000. These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
PRIME MINISTER
Cash Limits
Mr. Andrew Mitchell : To ask the Prime Minister if there are any proposals to change the 1990-91 cash limit for the Cabinet Office : other services.
The Prime Minister : The cash limit for the Cabinet Office : other services (class XIX, vote 2) will be reduced by £662,000 from £21,918,000 to £21,256,000. This reflects the reprofiling of the timetable of a major capital project. Expenditure will now fall in later years. The decrease offsets an increase in the cash limit of the Cabinet Office : OMCS (class XIX, vote 1) of £662,000 for which a supplementary estimate has been submitted.
EMPLOYMENT
Disabled People
Mr. Beaumont-Dark : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment what arrangements have been made to publish the evaluation of his Department's special schemes for people with disabilities, as promised in paragraph 6.23 of the consultative document, "Employment and Training for People with Disabilities".
Mr. Howard : I published the evaluation on 2 November and placed copies in the Library. Copies have been sent to all parties who were on the original distribution list for the consultative document which include organisations of and for people with disabilities. Comments are invited by 1 February 1991, particularly on the issues of priorities in future expenditure, the balance between employers' and the Government's contribution to costs and the help available under the schemes to people with disabilities in self-employment.
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Cash Limits
Mr. Waller : To ask the Secretary of State for Employment whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limits or running costs limits for 1990-91.
Mr. Jackson : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made. The cash limit for class VI, vote 1 (training and enterprise programmes) will be reduced by £14,970,000 from £2,467,308,000 to £2, 452,338,000. This is the net effect of a token £1,000 estimate ; of increased provision of £1,159,000 (running costs) and £2,000,000 (capital costs) for full take-up of end-year flexibility for both capital and running costs as announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990, Official Report, cols. 236-39 ; of a decrease of £2,500,000 to offest the increase sought on class VI, vote 4 ; of the transfer of £15,279,000 to the employment service in connection with the transfer of the employment rehabilitation service ; and a decrease of £350,000 in connection with the transfer of responsibility for the North London school of physiotherapy to the Department of Health.
The cash limit for class VI, vote 2 (other programmes and central services), will be increased by £372,000 from £213,825,000 to £214, 197,000. This is the net effect of an increase of £486,000 for full take-up of running costs end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July ; an increase of £6,000 from class III, vote 4 to fund the inclusion of agriculture and horticulture in the small firms loan guarantee scheme and a decrease of £120,000 to offset the increase sought on class VI, vote 4.
The cash limit for class VI, vote 3 (Employment Service), will be increased by £21,328,000 from £393,976,000 to £415,304,000. This increase is partly offset by a reduction in the cash limit on class VI, vote 1. The increase is the result of the transfer of £15,279,000 in connection with the transfer of the employment rehabilitation service from the Training Agency (class VI, vote 1) and an increase of £2,725,000 (running costs) and £3,324,000 (capital costs) for full take-up of running costs end-year flexibility entitlement and part take-up of capital end-year flexibility entitlement announced on 25 July.
The cash limit on class VI, vote 4 (Health and Safety Commission and Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) will be increased by £2,620,000 from £134,591,000 to £137,211,000. This is the net effect of increased provision of £2,500,000 for running costs for the Health and Safety Commission (subhead A1 of class VI, vote 4), offset by a corresponding decrease on class VI, vote 1 ; and an increase of £120,000 for the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (subhead A2 of class VI, vote 4) for arbitrators' fees and exhibitions, offset by a corresponding decrease on class VI, vote 2. The running costs limit for the Department of Employment (votes 1, 2 and 3) will be increasing by £1,870,000 from £914,397,000 to £916, 267,000.
The running costs limit for subhead A1 of class VI, vote 4 (Health and Safety Commission) will increase by £2,500,000 from £98,121,000 to £100,621,000.
These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement.
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WALES
Cash Limits
Mr. Gwilym Jones : To ask the Secretary of State for Wales if he proposes to make any changes to the cash limits for class XVI, votes 5, 8 and 10, and for WO/LACAP and WO/UA in the current year.
Mr. David Hunt : Yes. Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit on class XVI, vote 5 is being increased by £7,586,000, from £317,825,000 to £325,411,000 ; the cash limit on class XVI, vote 8 is being increased by £14,207, 000, from £962,838,000 to £977,045,000 ; the cash limit on class XVI, vote 10 is being increased by £5,475,000, from £1,604,300,000 to £1, 609,775,000 ; the cash limit for WO/LACAP is being increased by £10, 400,000, from £357,188,000 to £367,588,000 and the cash limit for WO/UA is being increased by £2,792,000, from £67,112,000 to £69,904, 000.
The increase on vote 5 relates to the take-up of full end-year flexibility entitlement on capital expenditure (£7,651,000) as announced by the Chief Secretary on 25 July 1990 at columns 235-38, partly offset by a reduction of £65,000 in respect of a contribution to be made to the Department of Health for the Peto institute. The Department of Health will take a corresponding increase to class XIII, vote 3.
The increase to vote 8 takes account of the termination of VAT refunds (£10,480,000), additional expenditure for the senior nurses pay award (£82,000), an increase to general medical costs (2,749,000) and the take-up of full end-year flexibility entitlement on capital expenditure (£896,000) as announced by the Chief Secretary on 25 July 1990.
The increase to vote 10 is in respect of block grant payable to local authorities as compensation under section 67 of the Local Government, Planning and Land Act 1980.
The increase to the local authority capital cash limit (WO/LACAP) takes account of additional provision for home renovation grants. The increase to the urban aid capital cash limit (WO/UA) takes account of the take-up of full end-year flexibility entitlement on capital expenditure (£2,792,000) as announced by the Chief Secretary on 25 July 1990.
These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL
Cash Limits
Mr. Carrington : To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes have been made to the class X, vote 12, cash limit and running costs limit for the Public Record Office.
The Attorney-General : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 12 will be increased by £571,000 from £19,823,000 to £20,394,000. This increase will be charged to the reserve and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure. The increase arises partly as a result of additional costs incurred in respect of a VAT surcharge
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and improved security measures. The running cost limit for the Public Record Office will as a result be increased by £292,000 from £16,462,000 to £16,754,000.The increase in the cash limit will also enable the Public Record Office to meet the cost of planned capital works originally provided for in 1989-90 in class XX, vote II, but which have slipped into 1990-91. Of the increase £279,000 comes into end-of-year flexibility arrangements as announced to the House of Commons by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 25 July 1990 at columns 236-38. The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
Mr. Carrington : To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes have been made to the class X, vote 3, cash limit and running costs limit for the Northern Ireland court service.
The Attorney-General : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit for class X, vote 3 has been increased by £3,180,000 from £16,360,000 to £19,540,000 and the running costs limit by £200,000 from £12,606,000 to £12,806,000. This increase has been charged to the reserve and will not add to the planned total of public expenditure. The increases arise because of additional costs incurred in respect of bomb damage to court buildings, extra security staff, judicial removals and legal representation at coroners' inquests. Additional
appropriations-in-aid of £200,000 will offset the increase in the running costs limit.
The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
Mr. Carrington : To ask the Attorney-General whether any changes have been made to the class X, vote 9, cash limit and running costs limit for the Treasury Solicitors Department.
The Attorney-General : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for class X, vote 9, will be increased by £1,508,000 from £14,354,000 to £15,862,000 and the running costs limit by £1,558,000 from £15,334,000 to £16,892, 000.
The increase is required as a result of improved recruitment and retention of staff.
The increase is within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
HOME DEPARTMENT
Police and Criminal Evidence Act
Mr. Hind : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the revised codes of practice made under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 come into force.
Mr. Peter Lloyd : My right hon. and learned Friend's intention was to bring the codes into force on 1 January 1991. In order to make some small amendments to the codes, however, and to give the police more time for training, we have today laid a fresh set of draft codes before Parliament and plan to bring them into force on 1 April 1991.
Column 13
Cash Limits
Mr. Hayes : To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make any changes to the 1990-91 cash limits within his responsibilities and to his Department's running costs limit.
Mr. Waddington : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the cash limit on class IX, vote 3, Home Office administration, immigration and police support services, England and Wales, will be reduced by £257,000 from £758,925,000 to £758,668,000. This is caused by the transfer of responsibility for the new drugs demand reduction task force to the Department of Health.
In consequence of this transfer of responsibility, the Home Office running costs limit will be reduced by £242,000 from £1,012,659,000 to £1,012,417,000.
ENERGY
Cash Limits
Mr. Roger King : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any changes will be made to the Office of Electricity Regulation's cash limit for 1990-91.
Mr. Wakeham : The Director General of the Office of Electricity Regulation is accountable for this vote ; I understand that the following changes will be made.
The cash limit for class V, vote 8 relating to expenditure by the Office of Electricity Regulation will be reduced by £300,000 from £12,135,000 to £11,835,000 mainly due to a planned slower build- up of staff numbers than originally forecast. The running cost limit will be reduced by £300,000 from £8,455,000 to £8,155,000.
Mr. Dickens : To ask the Secretary of State for Energy whether any changes will be made to his Department's cash limits for 1990-91.
Mr. Wakeham : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the following changes will be made. The cash limit for class V, vote 2 will be increased by £9,552,000 from £289,010,000 to £298,562,000. This extra provision is required to meet the costs of decommissioning and radiocative waste management operations resulting from the recently announced closure of the steam- generating heavy water reactor at Winfrith.
The cash limit for class V, vote 3 will be increased by £800,00 from £39,317,000 to £40,117,000. This extra provision is sought to meet an increase of £550,000 in the cost of the Piper Alpha public inquiry and payments to the Scottish Office and others of £250,000 in connection with the Ocean Odyssey fatal accident inquiry. These increases are within the forecast outturn for the planning total included in the Chancellor's autumn statement today.
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