§ Mr. Sayeedasked the Secretary of State for Transport what is the estimated expenditure of the Board of Irish Lights for 1984–85; what he expects to be the income of the general lighthouse fund from the Republic of Ireland in 1984–85; whether he can yet give more precise figures for 1983–84 than those in his answer of 20 February, Official Report, column 306; and whether he is yet in a position to make a further statement on the negotiations with the Irish Government.
§ Mr. David MitchellThe estimated expenditure of the Commissioners of Irish Lights for 1984–85 is £10.9 million, of which 75 per cent. may be attributed to the Republic. The income from light dues collected at ports in the Republic of Ireland during 1984–85 is expected to be of the order of £l million.
Finalised accounts are not yet available for 1983–84, but provisional figures show that expenditure by the commissioners in that year amounted to £9.890 million, of which £7.418 million could be attributed to expenditure incurred in the Republic. Income from light dues collected in the Republic during 1983–84 was £.1.011 million. So the difference between the commissioners' expenditure in the Republic and the dues collected there in 1983–84 was £6.407 million.
I am not able to add to the statement I made on 20 February, at column 366, about the negotiations on this and other related matters with the Irish Government. The next meeting has been arranged for 11 July 1984.