§ Mr. Sillarsasked the Secretary of State for Energy what grant aid or other forms of special help has been given to Scottish coalfield areas from EEC resources.
§ Mr. EadieI would refer my hon. Friend to the answers given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 26th November and to my hon. Friend the Member for Paisley (Mr. Robertson) and the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. Fairgrieve) on 28th November, which gave details of assistance for Scotland so far approved from EEC resources. I regret that it is not possible to specify what proportion of this assistance will flow to the areas of Scottish coalfields. Some £6 million and £43 million has been provisionally claimed towards rehabilitation payments in respect of mineworkers made redundant in 1973 and 1974 respectively. A proportion of this will be made available to Scotland.