§ Mr. Gristasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each of the last three years the number of civil servants in his Department who have been prematurely retired on grounds of (i) inefficiency, (ii) limited efficiency, (iii) redundancy, and (iv) discipline, showing executive and administrative grades separately.
§ Mr. William RossThe following information relates to Scottish Office staff in the Administration Group in the grades of executive officer and above:
Grants and loans under the Fisheries Act 1955 for the construction, improvement or repair of fishery marine works in order to promote the maintenance or development of the fishing industry;
Grants and loans under the Local Employment Act 1972 for the improvement of basic transport services;
Assistance to local authorities under the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 for improvements to make a harbour suitable for open air or water recreation by the general public; and
In exceptional circumstances, the Highlands and Islands Development Board may give financial assistance for harbour improvements, but such assistance will not in general be available concurrently with financial assistance from other Government sources.
In addition, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment has powers under Section 11 of the Harbours Act 1964 to make loans to statutory harbour authorities for commercial harbour developments.