To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make an announcement on the future accommodation for Scottish Office staff in Edinburgh.

Staff are being informed today that subject to the satisfactory conclusion of detailed negotiations the Scottish Office is to occupy a major new office building of 290,000 sq ft to be provided by Forth Properties Limited at Victoria quay, Leith. The new building which will accommodate about 1,400 staff from New St. Andrew's House and some other central Edinburgh buildings will be ready in the summer of 1994. St. Andrew's House will remain the headquarters of the Scottish Office.