§ 90. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce his decisions on a subsidy for transport and reduction in freight rates to Orkney and Shetland and between the islands.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellI announced my policy for shipping services to the Scottish islands, including the system of charging and support, in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward Taylor) on 18th April. Copies have been sent to the local authorities in Orkney and Shetland and to the shipping operators concerned.
The arterial routes to Orkney and Shetland will be eligible in principle for direct Government subsidy if the operator 303W concerned is prepared to enter into formal arrangements. The Orkney and Shetland inter-island services will be for local authorities to support under Section 34 of the Transport Act, 1968, with the assistance of Government grant in approved cases.—[Vol. 835, c. 85–8.]