§ Mr. Welshasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what the special islands grant would now be if it was to maintain its value when first introduced; and whether he plans to increase this grant.
§ Mr. Hugh D. BrownBased on retail price index data, the grant would have to be raised to about £117,000 to provide the equivalent purchasing power of a grant of £25,000 in 1955. That is not a meaningful figure; account must be taken of the totality of support for agriculture in the islands of which this is only a small part. For example, the proposed increase of 50p in the hill sheep compensatory allowances will increase the support to island producers in 1979 by about £225,000. On the second point, I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 7 March 1979.—[Vol. 963, No. 66, c.708.]