§ Mr. Macdonaldasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make additional resources available to the Western Islands Council to enable it to mitigate the effects of the anticipated staff shortage in 1987–88 at the Nicolson Institute; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangIt is up to local authorities to choose their own expenditure priorities within the resources available. Western Isles Islands Council's current expenditure guideline for 1987–88 is 1.7 per cent. above its assessed need, 6.3 per cent. above its budget in 1986–87 and 7.8 per cent. above its guideline in that year.