House of Commons Hansard Debates for 4 Feb 1993

DUCHY OF LANCASTER

Office of Public Service and Science

Mrs. Browning : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what proposals he has to change the 1992-93 cash limit or running costs limit for the Office of Public Service and Science.

Mr. Waldegrave : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate the cash limit for the Office of Public Service and Science (class XIX, vote 1) will be increased by a token £1,000 from £41,752,000 to £41,753,000. The Department's gross running costs limit will be decreased by £17,000 from £64,144,000 to £64,127,000. The principal changes being due to reductions in running cost cover for the Office of Science and Technology and for Chessington computer centre ; and an increase in running cost cover for the CCTA.

The running costs change also reflects the transfer of running costs from H.M. Treasury (class XVIII, vote 1) in respect of Chessington computer centre. The running cost limit for the Civil Service college has been decreased by £163,000 from £1,800,000 to £1, 637,000 reflecting greater than anticipated receipts from the provision of training courses. The changes will not add to the planned total of public expenditure.

Science Vote

Mr. Brazier : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what changes he proposes to the estimates class XI, vote 5 (Science) for 1992- 93.

Mr. Waldegrave : Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimates, the cash limit for class XI, vote 5 (Science) will be increased by £1,551,000 from £1,050,181,000 to £1, 051,732,000.

Of the increase £480,000 is to enable the Royal Society to increase its programme of support for scientists in the former Soviet Union as part of the programme announced by the Prime Minister on 20 May 1992, at column 137. Of this £230,000 is offset by reductions in cash limits of £100,000 for class I, vote 1 (Ministry of Defence : personnel costs, support and other services), £50,000 for class IV, vote 2 (Department of Trade and Industry : support for industry, international trade, statutory and regulatory work, consumer protection and administration), £50,000 for class 3, vote 4 (Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food : Agricultural, Food and Fishing Services) and £30,000 for class XIX, vote 1 (Cabinet Office). The remaining £1,071,000 is to enable the Natural Environment Research Council to meet the costs of the

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conversion of the RRS Discovery falling in 1992-93. The grant paid to the NERC in 1991-92 was reduced by this amount to take account of delay in the completion of this work.

£230,000 of the increase will be offset and the remainder charged to the reserve, and so there will be no increase in the planned total of public expenditure as a result of these changes.

Appointments

Mr. Canavan : To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will update the information given in his answer to the hon. Member for Don Valley on 28 October 1992, Official Report , column 668 ; and if he will state the political affiliation of the appointees where known.

Mr. Robert Jackson : My right hon. Friend has made the following appointments since 28 October 1992 :