§ Mr. James Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the maintenance costs of each college of education for each of the past two years showing separately (a) staff costs and (b) expenditure on repairs and replacement of equipment.
§ Mr. McElhoneThe figures are shown below.
(3) what proportion of the additional £35 million aid to the Scottish coal industry will be used to assist in marketing output from Ayrshire;
(4) what is his estimate of the Ayrshire share of coal-burn tonnage in the new agreement between the National Coal Board, the South of Scotland Electricity Board and the Government, as backed by the £35 million additional aid he announced at Perth on 12th March.
§ Mr. Gregor MacKenzieThe aim of the proposed payments of up to £35 million over a period of five years is to assist the National Coal Board and the 471W South of Scotland Electricity Board to reach agreement on a five-year contract for the supply of coal to power stations and thereby to help the National Coal Board to take decisions on investment in new capacity and to safeguard colliery employment in Scotland. The details of this contract are still under negotiation and the precise application of the Government payments is a matter for further discussion with the industries. It is therefore not possible for me to indicate at this stage the uses to which the sums involved might be put, or their likely effect on future operations of the National Coal Board.