HC Deb 02 March 1978 vol 945 cc379-81W
Mr. Grimond

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much revenue

expected to perform within their cash limits.

A Government grant of £11.1 million has been paid to the North of Scotland Hyrdo-Electric Board in compensation for deficits incurred in 1976–77 in supplying electricity to the British Aluminium Company's Invergordon smelter. The Scottish Transport Group will receive £6.3 million in the form of revenue grants from both central and local government to cover operating losses in bus and ship subsidiaries. The balance of the cash limits represents borrowing to finance part of the industries' capital expenditure, including in the case of STG, 50 per cent. capital grants for new buses.

Mr. Grocott

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible for each year since 1972 the source of funds distinguishing between (a) borrowing from the Government, (b) borrowing from overseas, (c) subsidies from Government grants and compensation, and (d) internal financing.

Mr. Gregor MacKenzie

This information is published in the annual reports and accounts of the Scottish electricity boards and the Scottish Transport Group which are presented each year to Parliament. However, as the Government grants and compensation paid to the Scottish electricity boards are not all separately identified in detail, they are set out below:

subsidy he proposes to give in 1978 to Scottish island shipping services; and how much of this will be given (a) to Orkney and (b) to Shetland services.

Mr. Millan

Figures for estimated expenditure on revenue grants for 1978 or the 1978–79 financial year as appropriate are as follows:

£
West Coast and Western
Isles 3,600,000
Orkney 365,000

Further assistance is given through rate support grant to expenditure by regional and islands councils on local transport, including ferries and shipping services.