asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay an official visit to the Island of Islay.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State on 23rd April.—[Vol. 890, c. 304.]

Is the Minister of State aware that people in all the islands had high hopes of the results of the Government's recent survey but that those hopes have since been dashed by the great increases in fares and freight charges to the islands? Does he agree that he should eschew the pleasures of Edinburgh for one weekend and go to Islay and speak to the local people about the problems facing them?

I thought that the outcome of the recent review had been rather well received. In fact, I had a letter thanking me for it from the hon. Gentleman's hon. Friend the Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Stewart).

Will the hon. Gentleman tell us why he is not prepared to help Western Ferries with the service they give to the island?

Opposition Members are always telling us to cut public expenditure. Therefore, to give subsidies to two operators for one island would be completely daft.