§ Mr. LeadbitterTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland under what powers borrowing is currently undertaken by the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and the South of Scotland Electricity Board; what is their current outstanding debt; what claims on capital he expects over the next three years; and whether he plans to increase the boards' borrowing powers.
§ Mr. LangThe powers under which the Scottish electricity boards may borrow are set out in section 27 of the Electricity (Scotland) Act 1979. Outstanding debt as at 3 June 1988 was £2,632 million. The boards' proposed expenditure on fixed assets over the next three years is as follows:
£ million 1988–89 237 1989–90 210 1990–91 190 The Electricity (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill, increasing the limit on the amount the boards may borrow from £2,700 million to £3,000 million, is currently before the House.