asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent his Department has been concerned in the acquisition and preparation of the former Royal High School Building in Edinburgh as the site for an Assembly in Scotland as envisaged in the Scotland and Wales Bill; and whether he will make a statement about the involvement of his Department in the preparation of the new Assembly building.

My Department has worked closely with the Property Services Agency both prior to and following the announcement on 30th July 1975—[Vol. 896, c. 534–5]—of the Government's proposal to acquire the former Royal High School buildings. The conversion of the buildings for Assembly use is the responsibility of the Property Services Agency, working on the basis of accommodation requirements prepared by my Department in consultation with the Agency.