§ Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the increases in freight and passenger charges of David MacBrayne Limited which came into effect on 9th September, 1968.
§ Mr. RossNo. In considering the level of these charges and of the Government grant to the company I have to take into account considerations which lie outside the scope of the National Board for Prices and Incomes. As was recommended to me by the Highlands and Islands Development Board after the seamen's strike in 1966, the level of charges has not been altered in the past two years, despite the resulting increase in grant. In view of the rise in operating costs during this period, however, I concluded with reluctance that there was no alternative to making the recent increases in charges.