§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an assurance that any block grant given to a Scottish Assembly in the event of the Scotland Bill being implemented will be 781W assessed on the basis of the present situation whereby expenditure from Government funds on the devolved services in Scotland is between 25 and 30 per cent. above the comparable figure for England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MillanThe present level of public expenditure in Scotland reflects the Government's assessment of Scotland's needs. We have made clear, in White Papers and elsewhere, our intention that Scottish public expenditure should continue to be settled on the assessment from time to time of the relative needs of the various parts of the United Kingdom.