Mr. StewartTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the annual reports and accounts for 1988–89 of the Scottish electricity boards; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. RifkindI have now received the annual reports and accounts of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board and the South of Scotland electricity board. These have been laid before the House. Notwithstanding the position shown in the accounts at 31 March 1989, I have confirmed to the boards, with the agreement of Treasury that they shall continue to have access to advances which can be made by me under section 24(1) of the Electricity (Scotland) Act 1979 subject to the limit set out in section 29(1) of that Act, as amended, until the transfer date defined in section 67(4) of the Electricity Act 1989.