asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to issue consultative documents along the lines of the Department of Health and Social Security papers "The Elderly in the Home" and "A Happier Old Age" prior to a Scottish White Paper on the elderly.

My Department issued the Department of Health and Social Security discussion document "A Happier Old Age" to a wide range of interested bodies in Scotland, and copies of comments submitted to the Department of Health and Social Security by Scottish bodies are being sent to my Department. The needs of the elderly in Scotland are at present being considered by a programme planning group set up jointly by the Scottish Health Services Planning Council and the Advisory Council on Social Work. It is expected that the group's report will be submitted to my right hon. Friend about April, and consideration will then be given to the ways in which the views of interested parties may be obtained.