§ Dr. GodmanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial assistance has been given in each of the past five years by the European Community to Caledonian MacBrayne to operate essential public passenger ferry services between the mainland and the islands and among the islands; what sums are to be provided by the European Community for this purpose in 1991–92, 1992–93 and 1993–94; and if he will make a statement.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe financial assistance provided to Caledonian MacBrayne by the European regional development fund through grants towards new ships, piers and shore terminals for essential ferry services over the past five years is as follows:—
Year £ million 1986–87 1.45 1987–88 1.79 1988–89 2.19 1989–90 2.69 1990–91 3.35 It is not possible to predict the amounts for the years 1991–92 to 1993–94 as Caledonian MacBrayne, like other bodies, will require to make applications in respect of 268W proposed capital expenditure. Such applications will be considered on their merits by a programme monitoring Committee which includes representatives of central and local government, the European Community and other organisations. However, grants from the European regional development fund will cease to be available in their present form in 1993. No guarantee can, therefore, be given that individuals applications which may be approved in principle will receive grant.