HC Deb 25 November 1994 vol 250 cc432-3W
Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the amount of public money paid out by his Department under the tariff rebate subsidies scheme between 1 January 1992 and 31 August 1993, in respect of the carriage southbound for Orkney or Shetland of empty containers.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 24 November 1994]: No such estimate has been made.

Mr. Wallace

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what systems his Department has operated to monitor and scrutinise tariff rebate subsidy claims made by or on behalf of(a) P and 0 Scottish Ferries Ltd., (b) Shetland Line (1984) Ltd. and Orkney Line and (c) Orcargo Ltd.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

[holding answer 24 November 1994]: Since 1 February 1994 each of the shipping companies has had to submit claims for tariff rebate subsidy in a standard format. Each company is required to submit a subsidy claim which has been certified by its auditors as fairly stated and properly and reasonably made in accordance with the conditions of the scheme. To assist the reporting accountants in this task, a comprehensive guidance note covering the rules and regulations of the TRS scheme has been issued. In addition to statutory annual accounts the companies are also required to prepare an approved services account and audit certificate which details total income and expenditure, including subsidy, in relation to approved services. The Department also retains the right to carry out spot checks on each company's records to ensure adherence to the rules and regulations currently in force.

Prior to 1 February 1994, all companies within the scheme, with the exception of P and 0 Scottish Ferries Ltd., were required to submit to the Department copies of invoices relating to freight shipments. P and 0 was required to submit regular information on carryings but was not required to submit copies of individual invoices because of the large number of invoices processed by that company. In all cases the companies were required to submit annually an approved services account and audit certificate.