asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total capital debt of Scottish local authorities at the nearest convenient date; and what estimate he makes of the cost in servicing this debt.

At 15th May 1974 the total was £2,740 million, including £1,734 million on trading accounts and housing revenue accounts. No estimate of total loan charges has been made, but for the purpose of the Rate Support Grant (Scotland) Order 1975 I estimated that £162 million of loan charges would fall to be met from rate funds in the 12 months commencing 16th May 1975.