asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any changes to announce in the cash blocks SO/LA1 and SO/LA2 for 1984–85 which are within his responsibility.
Cash block SO/LA1 in 1984–85 is being reduced by £3·429 million. The limit for this block—which includes all Scottish local authority capital expenditure within my responsibility on services other than housing—was set at £391·117 million; the revised cash limit is now £387·688 million. This adjustment reflects the final outturn figure for the same block in 1983–84 which was overspent by £3·429 million or 0·9 per cent. of the revised SO/LA1 cash limit of £385·326 million for that year.Cash block SO/LA2 is being reduced by £38·257 million. The limit for this cash block—which includes capital expenditure in Scotland on housing by local authorities, new towns, the Scottish Special Housing Association and on schemes financed by the Housing Corporation; and industrial and commercial investment by new towns—was set at £466·753 million for 1984–85. The revised cash limit is £428·496 million. This change comprises three separate reductions: