asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future of the regional consultative economic planning groups.

The Groups have already done valuable work in helping to pave the way for the creation of effective co-operation between the local planning authorities and the creation of Executive Regional Agencies for planning and promotion. I regard this as their main rôle, especially as regional co-operation of this kind is so valuable in the context of the prospective reform of local government.