HC Deb 11 March 1975 vol 888 cc130-4W
Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures available for the financial benefits to Scotland from EEC membership from each source, including the European Social Fund and the European Coal and Steel Community, indicating what percentage these amounts represent of the total benefit to the United Kingdom in each case.

Mr. William Ross:

The total benefits to Scotland so far approved are:

Source Amount£ million Percentage of United Kingdom benefit
(1) European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund 7.6 15.4
(2) European Social Fund 10 20
(3) European Investment Bank 31.9 23
(4) European Coal and Steel Community 14.9 20

The following is allocated on a United Kingdom basis and I regret that it is not

Category Amount Source Distribution
Fat Cattle Producers £4 million European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Throughout Scotland
Feedingstuffs Manufacturers £1.1 million European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Throughout Scotland
Seed Producers £41,000 European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund. Throughout Scotland
Individual Projects receiving financial assistance from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund:—
Project Amount£
Construction of a fishing vessel to be based at Whalsay 25,956
Construction of eight fishing vessels to be based at Peterhead 305,701
Construction of a fishing vessel to be based at Fraserburgh 62,521
Construction of a Cheddar cheese-making factory at Sorbie 168,888
Construction of a cheese-making and milk products factory at Lockerbie 477,829
Construction of a processing complex for cheese and allied dairy products at Inverness 12.770
Installation of cheese manufacturing plant and construction of cheese and powder store in a creamery at Stranraer 102,133
Construction of a vegetable processing factory at Eyemouth 105,846
Construction of new building and plant for the production of par-fried French potatoes at Bo'ness 170,125
Construction of a central grain drying cleaning and storage plant at Coupar Angus. 33,024
Widening and deepening of the River Leet and Lamden Burn water course together with allied field drainage work in Berwick-shire 31,643
Reorganisation and improvement of production conditions on a group of farms at Ayton, Berwick-shire 39,411
Improvement of land construction of farm roads, planting of shelter belts and various construction works on farms in North Argyll 374,380

possible to give a breakdown—£10.44 million from the European Coal and Steel Community in respect of the coal industry. In addition there is£25,000 to the Highlands and Islands Development Board under Article 266 of the Community budget relating to regional studies.

Lord James Douglas-Hamilton

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has about the categories of persons and institutions in Scotland which have received financial benefits as a result of Great Britain's membership of the EEC; and what information he has of the amounts that each category has received and of the distribution of such benefits within Scotland.

Mr. William Ross:

The following categories of persons and bodies have received financial assistance from the EEC:

Category Amount Source Distribution
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board. £ 10.4 million European Investment Bank Peterhead
South of Scotland Electricity Board. £ 15.6 million European Investment Bank Hunterston
Lewis Offshore Ltd. £ 4 million European Investment Bank Lewis
Individual Companies £ 1.92 million European Investment Bank from global loan administered by the Industrial Commercial and Finance Corporation. Throughout Scotland
Government operated schemes of training of unemployed workers; other Government expenditure on training; transfer of workers; training and resettlement of workers leaving agriculture; training of workers in or leaving textiles; training of disabled persons; industrial rehabilitation of disabled persons and training provided by the Small Industries Council for Rural Areas in Scotland. £ 10 million. European Social Fund Throughout Scotland
British Steel Corporation £ 14.8 million European Coal and Steel Community. Ravenscraig
Scottish Office £ 45,000 European Coal and Steel Community. Cambuslang area
Mineworkers made redundant or redeployed from closed collieries. £ 10.4 million*" (United Kingdom allocation) European Coal and Steel Community. Dollar, Auchincruive, Maxwell, Easton, Lochlea, Kingshill No. 3, Littlemill.
Highlands and Islands Development Board (provision for recreational facilities in areas affected by oil-related development). £ 25,000 Article 266 of Community Budget (Regional Studies). Highlands and Island?
* It is regretted it is not possible to give a breakdown of this sum as between Scotland and the United Kingdom.