§ Mr. Charles KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the subsidy to be paid to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. for the financial year commencing 1 April 1996; what it was for the year ended 31 March; how much of the difference in the figures is attributable to the withdrawal of the Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin service; and if he will make a statement. [29240]
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonSubject to approval of the estimates, the Government propose to make available to Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. in 1996–97 revenue deficit grant amounting to £11.7 million. The amount of revenue deficit grant made available to Caledonian MacBrayne in 1995–96 was £8.3 million. The increased requirement for revenue deficit grant in 1996–97 reflects a number of factors, including the loss of the revenue contribution from the Kyle of Lochalsh-Kyleakin service and the cost of compliance with additional safety requirements applying to ro-ro ferries. It is not the Government's practice to disclose information about the profit or loss incurred by Caledonian MacBrayne Ltd. in providing ferry services on individual routes.