§ Mr. Biffenasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the projects affected by the Chancellor's statement of public expenditure retrenchment announced on 21st May which fall on his Vote and indicate the total savings expected for the current and prospective year.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellIt is too early to specify the projects affected. Any savings in the current year will be small. The savings expected for 1974–75 on expenditure within my responsibility—mainly by local authorities—will be about £10 million in capital expenditure and about £7 million in current expenditure. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in his statement on 21st May, the roads necessary to support Scottish oil developments will not be affected nor will there be any reduction in the building programme for hospitals, 207W schools, colleges, old people's homes or other building for local health and personal social services.
The Scottish contribution to the savings referred to in the answer by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will depend on the outcome of the discussions which he mentioned.
For the effect on my Votes of the policy on Civil Service manpower announced in the Chancellor of the Exchequer's statement, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to his Question to the Minister for the Civil Service.