HC Deb 07 February 1983 vol 36 c277W
Mr. Home Robertson

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the extent in square miles of the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland; and what is its maximum extent to the west, north and east of the Scottish mainland;

(2) what is the extent in square miles of the territorial sea adjacent to England and Wales.

Mr. Rifkind

The territorial sea extends to three nautical miles around the mainland and offshore islands of

£ million
1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83
Tax* 891 860 886 849 843
Social Security † 1,201 1,183 1,292 1,405 1,454
Total 2,092 2,043 2,178 2,254 2,297
* Staff costs and general administrative expenditure (excluding accommodation costs) of the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise.
† Staff costs and general administrative expenditure (excluding accommodation costs) involved in running the social security system, principally borne by the Department of Health and Social Security but also by other Government Departments.

The rise in costs of running the social security system is mainly due to the payment of benefits to the increased numbers of unemployed; this has been partly offset by a reduction in staff costs resulting from efficiency measures. The costs of running the Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise have decreased marginally.