asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Livingston New Town Development Corporation knew for the first time that the lease of their present temporary offices in Edinburgh would expire in the spring of 1964.

In July, 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he expects the first 250 houses in Livingston New Town to be ready for occupation, and for what reason he invited the Livingston New Town Development Corporation to provide the first 250 houses as a matter of urgency by negotiated contract.

The first 45 houses in the scheme of 270 at Livingston Station are expected to be ready at the beginning of July, 1964, and the balance at intervals up to May, 1965. The Corporation were invited to provide these houses urgently in order to augment local authority programmes for British Motor Corporation workers. They decided to proceed on the basis of preliminary discussion with selected firms, followed by negotiation with the contractor offering the preferred scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the estimated Exchequer-borne capital expenditure on classified roads in Scotland for 1964–65, as stated in Command Paper No. 2177, shows a reduction of £2·1 million as compared with 1963–64.

In 1964–65, £3·2 million less will be paid in respect of the Forth Bridge and the Clyde Tunnels as these will be completed during the year; there will be an increase of £1·1million in respect of other classified roads investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the starting date for the building of the tech- nical college at Motherwell and the date when it is now expected that the building will be ready for use.

The education authority estimate they will be able to start in March, 1964, and to bring the college into use at the beginning of the 1966–67 session.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussion he has had with, and what proposals he has received from, the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board for the supply of electricity to the islands of Barra and North Uist and the neighbouring smaller isles; and when supply will be provided in those areas.

The North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board have a rural electrification programme which includes North Uist, Barra, and neighbouring islands, and the Government have authorised additional capital investment that will enable the Board to increase the pace of this work. It is for the Board to decide the order in which the areas covered by the programme can best be tackled.