asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was spent per capita in each of the past 10 years from central Government funds in the Strathclyde and Lothian regions, respectively; if he will explain the reasons for the difference in such expenditure; and if he will break down these figures into particular areas of expenditure, including health, social work, education, arts, rents, housing, transport, passenger subsidies, local government, roads and ferries, planning, water, sport, land tenure, new towns, fire service, courts, administration of the criminal and civil laws, and the countryside.

Because figures are not maintained on a regional basis for the whole range of expenditure indicated and because of organisational and other changes over the period it is not possible to provide the information requested except at disproportionate cost.