The Earl of SELKIRKasked Her Majesty's Government:
- (i) what is the current rate amount of the rate support grant to local authorities in Scotland;
- (ii) what are the purposes and amount of this grant which is specifically earmarked; and
- (iii) which of these services carried out by local authorities will be devolved and which reserved under the Scotland Bill.
§ The MINISTER of STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (Lord Kirkhill)Rate support grant is paid in aid of local authority revenue and is not earmarked to specific services. For 1977–78 total rate support grant in Scotland amounts to £932.9 million, which together with grants towards the cost of specific services estimated at £73.3 million represents 68½ per cent. of estimated relevant expenditure by authorities for that year. The following table lists specific grants payable on individual services, distinguishing between reserved and devolved services:
Reserved Services £ million Police 54.2 Civil Defence 0.2 Sheltered Workshops 0.9 55.3 Devolved Services List D Schools 0.5 Urban Programme 2.9 Urban Redevelopment 4.0 Housing improvement 8.3 Clean Air 0.2 Sewerage 0.8 Open Space 0.7 Countryside Port Health War Work Removal Town Development 0.6 18.0 73.3