HC Deb 17 February 1986 vol 92 cc16-7W
Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for Scotland the actual or projected payments of regional development grants in each year from 1979–80 to 1988–89 (a) at current prices and (b) at 1985 prices.

Mr. Allan Stewart

Actual or projected payments of regional development grants in each year from 1979–80 to 1986–87 are set out in the table below. These are shown net of refunds. No firm plans have been made about separate provision for regional development grants in 1987–88 and 1988–89 but public expenditure plans include provision of £100 million and £110 million respectively, at current prices and rounded to the nearest £10 million, for aggregate regional and general industrial support in these years.

£ million
Financial Year At current prices At 1984–85 prices
1979–80 *67 *103
1980–81 110 141
1981–82 138 161
1982–83 282 307
1983–84 136 142
1984–85 105 105
1985–86 109 104
1986–87 126 115

* Estimate.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate for the years until 1988–89 the net expenditure on regional selective assistance in Scotland.

Mr. Allan Stewart

An estimate of net expenditure on regional selective assistance in Scotland for the current year and information about provision for 1986–87, and about aggregate provision for regional and general industrial support for 1987–88 and 1988–89, are contained in "Public Expenditure to 1988–89: A Commentary on the Scotland Programme" published by the Scottish Office and made available to all Scottish hon. Members. No firm plans are made about separate provision for selective assistance in 1987–88 and 1988–89.

Mr. Gordon Brown

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing his latest estimate of expenditure on regional assistance in Scotland for 1985–86; and if he will compare this with his original estimate for such expenditure.

Mr. Allan Stewart

The latest estimate of expenditure on regional assistance in Scotland for 1985–86 compared with the original estimate is set out in the table:

Original estimate Latest published estimate (winter supplementary) £ million
£ million £ million
Regional selective assistance 39 53
"Old" regional development grants 95 101
"New" regional development grants 13 13
Total gross 147 167
Receipts 8 5
TOTAL NET *139 *162

* Includes £2 million not classified as public expenditure.

A more detailed breakdown of these estimates is contained in "Supply Estimates 1985–86, Class XV Scotland" and "Supply Estimates 1985–86, Supplementary Estimates".