asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he hopes to make a statement on the revision of local government boundaries in relation to Livingston New Town.

The report which the Local Government Boundary Commission for Scotland submitted to my right hon. Friend on 16th December 1977 of its initial review of electoral arrangements for Lothian Region includes in its recommendations changes affecting electoral areas associated with the designated area of Livingston New Town. The report will be considered after six weeks from the expiry of its submission, and any decision that my right hon. Friend reaches on it will be brought into force for the regional elections in May 1982.