§ 51. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional financial and other assistance has been given to the Highlands in the last 12 months; and what are the plans for further assistance.
§ Mr. RossThe estimated expenditure by my departments for the year to 31st March, 1966, amounts to £35 million, an increase of fully £2 million over the corresponding figure for the previous year. Assistance for industrial and commercial projects through the Board of Trade and the Treasury Loan Scheme for the 12 months to 31st December, 1965, amounted to approximately £590,000, compared with £376,000 for the previous year.
As to future plans, the Highlands and Islands Development Board has been established to further the economic and social development of the area, and I shall give careful consideration to its proposals. The Board's arrangements for financial assistance to industrial and other undertakings will also bring 288W increasing benefits to the area. Its measures will be additional to the projects and developments planned by government departments and local and statutory authorities (including the prototype fast reactor development by the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority at Dounreay).