PUBLIC spending in Scotland in 1994-95 will amount to #2743 per head,
more than #50 aweek for each person, Scottish Secretary Ian Lang told
the Commons. Details of the programme are:
Health
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Spending on health will be #3961.1m, up by #195.3m (5.2%) over current
plans. The overall increase in health spending since 1979 will be 50% in
real terms. Next year it will amount to #770 per head of the population.
Industry
------------
Industry, Enterprise and Training will see a 10% increase (#55m) to
#599m over this year. Of this #452m will go to Scottish Enterprise and
#76m to Highlands and Islands Enterprise. This will allow SE to take
over responsibility for inward investment in new towns as these are
wound up.
Regional assistance will grow from #87.5m in 1994-5 to #93m in 1996-7.
The Scottish Tourist Board will have the resources to implement the
changes required following the tourism review.
Transport
--------------
There will be a 5% increase (#21m) to #427m in spending on roads and
transport with further increases planned to #440m by 1996-7. Fourteen
major road schemes are already under construction and new schemes
enabled to start over the next three years will include the A74-M6; M8
and A1.
The forward programme will be announced in detail in the spring.
Transport subsidies to the isles will rise by 25%.
Education
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The total will go up #130m to #1306m rising to #1383m in 1996-7. It
includes a #200,000 increase in grant to the Scottish Sports Council
incorporating a 10% rise in funds for the Sportsmatch initiative for
local organisations.
Agriculture
------------
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food totals will rise by #32m (16.5%) next
year to #512m mainly due to currency fluctuations affecting European
Union payments.
Housing
------------
Next year's programme on housing is increased by 2.2%. The Government
says this ''will allow local authorities to make a positive response to
care in the community and tackle problems such as homelessness, housing
below tolerable standard, dampness and condensation. Scottish Homes
receives a 5.8% increase.
Environment
-------------
The general environmental programme is down to #356m compared with
#360m in the current year. Within that water and sewerage spending will
rise by around 3% from #237m this year to #244m next almost doubling the
level of investment since 1989-90.
Continued progress can be made on improving drinking water and
treating waste water.
Scottish Natural Heritage records a 10.5% increase from #36m to nearly
#40m enabling EU directives on wild birds and habitats to be implemented
along with the recommendations of the working parties on Loch Lomond and
the Trossachs, the Cairngorms and environmental education when they have
been agreed following current public consultation.
Justice
------------
Law and order will receive nearly 2.5 (#11m) more to #464m covering
expenditure on police, prisons, criminal injuries compensation and the
courts.
Arts
-------------
With the Scottish Arts Council in the Scottish budget for the first
time total spending on the arts and libraries rises from #54m to #76m
next year with a start being made on the new Museum of Scotland.
Others
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Scottish Office departmental costs will come under pressure from the
drive to improve efficiency and reduce civil service numbers. The
Government aims to achieve a marked fall in the proportion of public
spending going on the internal operations of government.
The social work budget is up nearly 5% to #66m-plus.
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