asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of abolishing the parental contribution in the Scottish Education Department students' allowance scheme; and what saving would be made in administrative costs.

The estimated cost of abolishing the parental contribution is about £10 million; the estimated savings in administrative costs would be about £300,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of money paid out under the Scottish Education Department students' allowance scheme; and what is the cost of administering the scheme.

The estimated cost of grants paid under the students' allowances scheme is £65 million in the current financial year; the estimated cost of administering the scheme is £950,000.

Location						Length Km	Estimated Completion Date
In Progress
1. B740 junction to Redmoss		…	…	…	…	2	Mid December 1977
2. Woodend to Beattock	…	…	…	…	…	9	Mid December 1977
3. Ecclefechan to Wooddend		…	…	…	…	21	March 1978
To start in 1978
4. Between north and south accesses to Crawford					…	2·3	May 1978

At present there is a central reservation barrier on about 15 kilometres out of a total length of about 111 kilometres. No new central barriers are planned in the period up to 1st June 1978.There is a continuing programme to provide hard margins and further contracts will be awarded during the next three years. As part of this work a bridge at Johnstonebridge will require to be widened. Subject to the completion of statutory procedures work is expected to start during the next three years on the upgrading to motorway standard of the sections of A74 from Wellburn to Poniel Bridge and Wellburn to Draffen.