asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the arrangements for distributing food from European Economic Community stores to needy people in East Lothian, including the type and quantity of food, its value, the organisations involved in distribution, provisions for handling and transport, the categories and numbers of people eligible to receive the food and arrangements for advising people of their entitlement.

I refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. and learned Friend on 30 January to the Member for Garscadden (Mr. Dewar) and would add that the food is to be given to needy people whose resources have been further stretched by the recent extremely cold weather; lists of such people, and publicity about the distribution, are being organised by the charitable organisations throughout Scotland at local level.