To ask the Secretary of State for Defence pursuant to the Winter Supplementary Estimates (HC 29), for what reasons he plans to transfer £70 million from voted capital departmental expenditure limit to non-voted near cash resource departmental expenditure limit; and if he will make a statement. (175445)

The transfer of £70 million from voted capital departmental expenditure limit to non-voted near cash resource departmental expenditure limit relates to a planned increase in the cash release of provisions. Under arrangements agreed in the 2004 spending review, increases in the cash release of provisions (which score as non-voted DEL) are offset against voted near cash provision.