§ Mr. Allan StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for shipping subsidies for sea transport services to Scotland in 1988–89; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindSubject to parliamentary approval of the estimates, I propose to make available in 1989–90 total subsidy provision of £12.10 million. The deficit subsidy for Caledonian MacBrayne will reduce in line with recent trends in the company's improved performance to £6.28 million. The estimated requirement to continue the fare reduction support for P and O services to Orkney and
Table 1 (Hectares) Year ending Conservancy 31 March 1982 31 March 1983 31 March 1984 31 March 1985 North West England 1,309 92 1,261 599 North East England 1,309 365 508 2,201 East England 1,309 745 1,550 909 South East England 1,309 329 523 1,566 South West England 1,309 992 838 1,701 North Wales 1,743 703 1,826 1,976 South Wales 747 1,743 1,521 1,546 North Scotland 7,371 3,348 19,492 9,576 East Scotland 7,371 1,399 1,511 3,824 South Scotland 7,371 1,085 4,361 2,599 West Scotland 7,371 2,303 11,179 2,360 10,423 12,108 44,570 28,857
356W
Table 2 (Hectares) Year ending Conservancy1 31 March 1986 31 March 1987 31 March 1988 North England 773 1,056 2,694 East England 1,365 1,355 1,493 West England 651 375 406 Wales 3,229 1,950 977 North Scotland 7,557 3,746 444 Mid Scotland 2,149 1,541 2,759 South Scotland 849 933 156 Shetland is increased to £4.32 million. On the basis of budgets submitted by coastal shippers within the tarriff rebate subsidy scheme, the funding requirement next year will be £1.5 million.
The proposed level of subsidy reflects the Government's continuing commitment to assisting the essential sea transport services to the west coast islands arid the Northern Isles.