§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has any record or estimate of the amounts paid to farmers and crofters (a) in Orkney and (b) in Shetland during the last financial year.
§ Mr. MillanPayments made during the financial year 1975–76 were:
(a) Orkney £ Subsidy schemes … … 595,120 Capital grants … … 565,186 Crofting grants … … 106,000 £1,266,306
(b) Shetland £ Subsidy schemes … … 253,807 Capital grants … … 27,937 Crofting grants … … 175,000 £456,744 Because of the revocation of the Hill Cattle, Hill and Upland Sheep and Winter Keep Schemes at the end of 1975 and the introduction of hill livestock compensatory allowances for 1976 the subsidy payments made during the financial year do not represent a normal year's payments. Taking into account livestock eligible for compensatory allowances payments for 1976, a year's subsidy payments for the two areas would be:
Orkney … … … £1,502,284 Shetland … … … £636,674 Payments were also made under the Fat Sheep Guarantee and Beef Premium Schemes. Based on the average weight of certified animals in Scotland we estimate these payments as follows:
Orkney £ Sheep … … … … 3,500 Cattle … … … … 52,350 186W
Shetland £ Sheep … … … … 3,300 Cattle … … … … 5,370
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of specific grants over and above housing grants and the rate support grant paid to the Shetland Islands Council in the last financial year.
§ Mr. MillanOver and above housing and the rate support grants, specific grants in aid of revenue expenditure paid directly to Shetland Islands Council in 1975–76 amounted to £871. This includes no allowance for police grant which is paid to the Northern Joint Police Committee whose requisitions upon the Islands Council are net of police grant.
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of specific grants over and above housing grants and the rate support grant, paid to the Orkney Islands Council in the last financial year.
§ Mr. MillanOver and above housing and the rate support grants, specific grants in aid of revenue expenditure paid directly to Orkney Islands Council in 1975–76 amounted to £2,577. This includes no allowance for police grant which is paid to the Northern Joint Police Committee whose requisitions upon the Islands Council are net of police grant.
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the amount of the grants paid to the Orkney Islands Council for housing purposes in the last financial year;
(2) what was the amount of the grants paid to the Shetland Islands Council for housing purposes in the last financial year.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownGovernment housing subsidies paid to the Shetland Islands Council and to the Orkney Islands Council in the financial year 1975–76 were £932,493 and £470,070 respectively.
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of rate support grant paid to Orkney in the last financial year.
§ Mr. MillanThe allocation of rate support grant for 1975–76 paid to Orkney Islands Council in the local authority financial year 1975–76 was £3,583,399; and the council also received £48,390 as 187W a final payment to the old authorities in the Islands for 1974–75.
§ Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of rate support grant paid to Shetland in the last financial year.
§ Mr. MillanThe allocation of rate support grant for 1975–76 paid to Shetland Islands Council in the local authority financial year 1975–76 was £4,199,450; and the council also received £43,222 as a final payment to the old authorities in the Islands for 1974–75.