asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is being made to increase the number of kidney machines; and what steps he intends to take to ensure that wherever possible machines for use in the patients' homes are supplied.

During the next year or two the hospital dialysis facilities for treating chronic renal failure will be expanded to treat at least 40 to 50 more patients. Plans are being developed to expand home dialysis but no firm figures can be put on this at present. Not all patients suitable for such treatment in hospital could be treated by home dialysis.

I thank my hon. Friend for his very full reply to the letter which I sent him on this matter. Could he indicate when the report will be available giving the full extent of the magnitude of this problem and how far and how soon it will be satisfactorily resolved?

I could not give a date at the moment, but we are co-operating with the physicians in charge of the dialysis unit on this. But I hope that reasonably soon we shall have information which will give a better guide about the expansion of the service. I am afraid that, like everything else, expansion in this service depends on the pressure on resources of regional hospital boards as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision exists for the detention of children with serious psychiatric disabilities; and whether there is a separate provision for boys and girls.

Accommodation in which children could be detained under the provisions of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act, 1960, is available in more than a dozen mental and mental deficiency hospitals including two children's psychiatric units with special facilities for children of about 12 years of age and under. These units and hospitals cater for both boys and girls.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that Answer will give a great deal of comfort to people in Scotland who must have been very disturbed by the case which occurred recently in Newcastle? Can he give an assurance that if there were a case like that in Scotland it would be adequately catered for?

I am sorry to say that we have some quite young children necessarily detained at the moment. Although there are obvious difficulties in any case, we have, on the whole, provision in Scotland for these very unfortunate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent from October, 1964, until the latest convenient date on school building; and what were the comparable figures for a similar period up to October, 1964.

The value of work done on school building in the four years from October, 1964, was £76·7 million and in the four preceding years £57·5 million.

I compliment my hon. Friend on this considerable stepping up of the work done in building schools, but is he satisfied that the schools are being properly located and that they are fitting in to the wider policy on comprehensive school building?

Yes. All the recent secondary school projects are for either new comprehensive schools or extensions to schools, partly to meet the raising of the school leaving age, but also to enable them better to fit in with the comprehensive reorganisation.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in every year for which the Government were responsible the number of school places, which is what matters, fell? Was there any improvement in 1968, which we looked for? If so, is it adequate to meet the requirements of raising the school leaving age?

The figures for school building places depend on whether primary or secondary school accommodation is being provided. I have given the figures of expenditure, and the figures for 1968, when they are published, will be very, very good indeed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent from October, 1964, until the latest convenient date on technical colleges; and what were the comparable figures for a corresponding period up to October, 1964.

Expenditure on technical colleges is not recorded separately. Total expenditure, current and capital, on further education by education authorities and the Scottish Education Department was about £37·8 million in the three-and-a-half years to October, 1964, and £57·2 million in a similar period thereafter. I will, with permission, circulate some more detailed figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

While again complimenting my hon. Friend, may I ask him to bear in mind that we are dealing particularly with youngsters between the ages of 15 and 18, which is a most difficult period? Despite the clamour on the benches opposite to cut public expenditure, will my hon. Friend ensure that this type of expenditure goes right ahead?

Certainly. I agree with my hon. Friend. One of the pities of the present situation is that the day release figures, although they have improved, are not going up as rapidly as I should like, particularly in this age group. But further education as a whole has expanded very rapidly and continues to expand.

Was the report in the Press yesterday that the Government are restricting the increase in local government expenditure to 1 per cent. in 1968–69 as opposed to 3⅓ per cent., which we discussed only a month ago, correct?

Order. The Question deals with technical colleges.

I am not responsible for reports in the Press, but I know what the hon. Gentleman is referring to—the circular which has just been sent out. Estimates of reckonable expenditure for the next two years under the rate support grant settlement—no doubt this will please the hon. Gentleman—allow fully for the extra cost of providing for the expected increase in the number of students in further education.

We must not widen Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the fire precautions in schools in Dundee; and if he will make a statement.

I understand from Dundee Education Authority that the Angus Area Firemaster and his staff have, at the education authority's request, embarked on a programme of visits to each of the education authority's schools, so that if there are any deficiencies, steps can be taken to remedy them. I have no evidence however, that the position generally is unsatisfactory.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, which will go a long way to relieve the anxiety indicated to me by correspondence from a number of parents with children at school.

I am obliged.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent from October, 1964 until the latest convenient date on roads; and what was the comparable figure for a similar period up to October, 1964.

Figures from October, 1964, are not available, but total expenditure on roads in the four local authority financial years 1961–62 to 1964–65 was £131 million, and for the four years 1965–66 to 1968–69 it is estimated at £209 million.

I thank my right hon. Friend for those figures. Is he aware that not sufficient is being spent on the Glasgow and Edinburgh motorway, only 10 miles of which exist on the most dangerous road in Scotland, and will he say when he expects to complete this motorway?

This is only one of the roads to which we have been devoting additional expenditure. I hope to see considerable improvement in the work being done during this current year, and towards the end of the following year it is hoped it will be nearing completion.

Will the Secretary of State also give the figures for the total taxation on road users in Scotland for the same periods, since this is highly relevant to the Question?

I think it is highly relevant that we are now seeing a tremendous drive forward in the infrastructure of Scotland—schools, technical colleges and roads. I can assure the hon. Gentleman that if he had done anything like this we would have had fewer problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the extension of smoke control orders in Central Scotland.

Local authorities in Central Scotland have so far made 138 Orders, covering 329,000 houses, of which 117, covering 289,000 houses, are already in operation. Most of the remainder will come into operation later this year.

I thank the Minister for his reply. Will he give comparable figures for October, 1964?

Up to 30th September, 1964, 60 orders were made covering 172,000 houses, of which 43, covering 102,000 houses, were by then in operation. In other words, it was one-ninth of the houses in Scotland as of 30th September, 1964, and it is now one-third.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to celebrate the jubilee year of the Forestry Commission.

The Forestry Commission is holding a major forestry exhibition at Edinburgh on 5th, 6th and 7th June; and it is organising forest weeks at selected forests and centres throughout Great Britain during the summer.

Are special arrangements being made to encourage children, especially children from my constituency, to attend these events?

Yes. I am glad to tell my hon. Friend that the Forestry Commission is in touch with education authorities, and the response is very encouraging. Many parties of school children are expected at events in various parts of the country, and there is an indoor exhibition at the Glasgow Museum and Art Gallery in the days after the Edinburgh exhibition, from 9th to 21st June.

Would not the best possible celebration for this jubilee year be for the Forestry Commission and others to be enabled to clear the great mass of wind-blown timber that still exists?

There is a Question on the Order Paper about this which I shall be happy to answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the work will be completed of strengthening multi-storey buildings, following the Ronan Point inquiry.

As soon as possible, but no estimate can be made until authorities have completed their assessment of what has to be done.

Will the hon. Gentleman give an assurance that tenants of multi-storey flats who have to suffer the expense of removal or disturbance whilst strengthening is taking place will be recompensed for this expense, and also that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will help the local authorities in this expense so that the ratepayers will not suffer?

This is another demand for an increase in public expenditure which I duly note. I am sure that local authorities will take appropriate steps to ensure the minimum of disturbance and that no undue expense will fall on the tenants concerned. The final settlement remains to be seen, depending on the nature of the structural improvements that will have to be made.

Will my hon. Friend expedite the strengthening of these flats? Blocks have been standing in Coatbridge for almost a year without progress being made.

I am quite sympathetic to my hon. Friend's point, and I know that the Secretary of State is very much concerned about this. My hon. Friend will remember that the Report on Ronan Point was published early in November. We have sent out two technical circulars, one on 21st November and the other on 6th January. Each local authority is being asked to get a structural engineer's report if its system is different from the generality of systems. This is not an easy task. I accept that urgency is very important.

Does the Minister realise that these high flats are not normally very popular, and what is he saying to local authorities to discourage them from building further blocks of this nature?

I cannot accept the hon. Gentleman's point. These blocks are quite popular, or they were certainly until this event. We can argue with local authorities only on housing densities. The Secretary of State has been very firm in his arguments about the developments in Glasgow. I would not say that applies to Edinburgh, where the densities are rather different.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance is available to local authorities to establish fully serviced caravan sites for the use of tourists.

Such projects may be considered for grant under Section 67 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act, 1967.

Does the Countryside Commission have enough money to help tourism in this way? Is it not true that some local authorities, despite the assurances of the Government that they wish to help tourism, have had their proposals turned down by the Countryside Commission, not because the proposals were bad but because the Government have not given the Countryside Commission enough money to do the job which they set them up to do?

This is the tenth question and we have now had 11 requests to increase public expenditure. Last year we provided £50,000, we have approved two schemes submitted to us, and this year we are providing £70,000, which I think is quite adequate for the moment.

Will the Minister say whether the Government will make available to local authorities money to prepare caravan sites for gipsies, as this matter is causing much concern?

With respect to my hon. Friend, that is another matter. We have been discussing the travellers, as they are called, in a different context. I should like to answer the question if my hon. Friend will put it down in that form.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received from the Scottish National Farmers' Union for the eradication of brucellosis; and what reply he has sent.

The union has made a number of proposals to extend the present scheme, principally related to compensation for the slaughter of reacting animals where they are only a small percentage of the herd. I am considering these proposals.

I thank my hon. Friend for his reply. I recognise the scale of the task of identifying the active excretors out of the total number of reactors, but will my hon. Friend discuss with the National Farmers' Union the possibility of proceeding by way of area eradication schemes, and will he say what proposals he has for dealing with the problem of the release on to the market of reactors under the Accredited Herds Scheme?

I am willing to meet the union at any time it wishes me to do so, and I have been reading its proposal with interest. The scheme has been making reasonable progress. There are problems involved in the last point raised by my hon. Friend, but I am considering it.

Does the hon. Gentleman recall that his attitude and that of his right hon. Friend on brucellosis caused them to be described in the New Year as "guilty men" by the Chairman of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board? Will he say whether they have yet done anything to purge their guilt?

I have read the issue referred to, not only the remarks by the Chairman of the Scottish Milk Marketing Board at the end of the journal, but the remarks of "Kyle" at the beginning of the journal to the same general double-barrelled effect. We feel no guilt in this. The scheme is making reasonable progress, we are willing to discuss the proposals put forward by the union, and I think this is the best position at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now received proposals from the Highlands and Islands Development Board for the development of the Strath of Kildonan; and if he will make a statement.

No, Sir. I understand that the Board is now having final discussions with interested organisations about possibilities for this area.

I thank my right hon. Friend for his indication that these discussions are final. Will they include discussions with the local crofting communities? Will the development proposed be concerned with the twin objectives of obtaining the most productive integrated land use and better employment opportunities in the area?

There is no doubt that this is the aim of the study. I know that my hon. Friend is concerned about the time that it has taken, but it involves discussions with a considerable number of organisations. My hon. Friend mentioned the Crofters' Union. I understand that discussions have taken place with that body, and also with the Scottish Landowners, the National Farmers' Union and the Forestry Commission.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when the Crofters Commission was set up 14 years ago, it devoted some attention to the Strath of Kildonan and regarded it as one of the best areas in the Highlands for rehabilitation? Is he further aware that, on being set up in 1965, the Highlands and Islands Development Board immediately set to work on the survey. We have been told frequently that the results of the survey would be forthcoming in a short time. I would be grateful to have some assurance from the right hon. Gentleman that they will be published in the near future.

This is not within my personal initiative, but I understand that the Board is at a final stage in respect of its proposals. It has been assisted in its task by the work done by the Crofters Commission and its discussions with that body.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in reorganising the development of tourism, he will take steps to provide that in the division of duties between Great Britain as a whole and the component countries each will share in the overall administration of the British section as well as being able to campaign for the tourist traffic of the respective countries and that all countries of the United Kingdom will participate in the same way in the British effort.

Clauses 1 and 2 of the Development of Tourism Bill, now before the House, are intended to achieve just this balance of responsibility in Great Britain.

Naturally, we all welcome this devolution of power to Scotland, but is there not a danger that it gives the appearance in the general set-up of devolution that what remains, called Britain, is the only part responsible for England? Is England not entitled to have its own tourist organisation, as Scotland has? In the development of this scheme of things, would it not be wise to follow the practice adopted by the Forestry Commission, with each country having its own organisation, and a federal organisation covering the whole country, and where Britain is not assumed to be England?

My concern at the moment is to ensure that we get the kind of freedom in respect of this work that we in Scotland have sought for a long time. Many of the points raised by my right hon. Friend could profitably be taken in the further stages of the Bill.

In view of the fact that the Highlands and Islands Development Board is spending a great deal of money on publicising Scotland, can the right hon. Gentleman say whether it will be able to continue to do this?

I am sure that the Highlands and Islands Development Board will not neglect its special responsibility in respect of its part of Scotland, and will be able to play its part. As it will be working in conjunction with the new Scottish Tourist Board, it is to be hoped that it will do it even better.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the growth in employment in the Grangemouth-Falkirk Survey Area from 1964; and how this growth relates to the projections set out in the Regional Survey and Plan for the area, with particular regard to manufacturing employment.

Between mid-1964 and mid-1967 there was an estimated increase of 3,300 employees in the survey area, of whom 1,100 were in manufacturing industry. The total number of employees in the area by 1967 thus already exceeded the consultants' forecast for 1971.

In the development of this area, will it be kept in mind that the movement of population from one area to another is an undesirable use of transport and that, if some of the development can be spread over the area, it will allow people to work where they live?

This has to be taken in a balanced way. It might be that by concentrating industrial development at the appropriate point within an area, advantages would be created which would be lost by dispersal. It is a matter of keeping a balance.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give details of the decline in employment in Scotland generally and say how this decline relates to the projections set out in his White Paper published just before the last General Election?

The Question on the Order Paper relates to the Grangemouth-Falkirk Survey Area. I will be glad to answer the other Questions when we come to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent on clearing derelict areas in Fife from October, 1964, until the latest convenient date; and if he will state the comparable figures for a similar period up to October, 1964.

From October, 1964, to December, 1968, work had been completed, or was in progress, on three schemes costing £137,000. This included the first phase of the Lochore Meadows project, which is estimated to cost £1 million, spread over seven to eight years. From March, 1960, when grants first became available, to October, 1964, six schemes were undertaken costing £75,000.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a number of local authorities are extremely grateful for the generous contributions towards this type of land rehabilitation? Is it his intention to further accelerate this process?

I am grateful for my hon. Friend's comments. With the specific grant of 85 per cent. and assistance in the resources element of the rate support grant, we expect more applications for the clearance of derelict land. I should like particularly to commend Fife County Council for the energetic way in which it has done this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers received in-service teacher training since 1964 to the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for a similar period up to October, 1964.

During the period 1964–68 about 59,500 teachers attended in-service courses and conferences provided by colleges of education. The comparable figure for the period 1960–64 was about 25,000. I do not have information about attendance at courses provided by other agencies.

Is my hon. Friend satisfied that there is a substantial incentive for teachers to attend this type of retraining? Does he not think that the subsistence and travel allowances could be higher?

I have not had representations about that. Teachers can go to certain courses on secondment, with full salary. There are special pooling arrangements which allow that to be done without it falling as a charge on the education authority, concerned. In all this, the position at the moment is really satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students of drama and music qualified in Scotland from 1962 to the nearest available date; what was the student intake during those years; how the figures compare with universities; and what future intake is planned.

From 1962 to 1968, inclusive, 484 students of either music or drama qualified from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama or from colleges of education in Scotland; the total first year intake during this period was 722; it is planned to increase the annual intake of music and drama students to these colleges by about 30 per cent. in the next five years. I shall write to my hon. Friend about the university figures.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the figures that he has just given the House will be studied with great interest, because the people of Scotland do not want to be fed on bingo, betting and drink? Will he agree that some of the youngsters coming from our schools and universities are as good as, if not better than, those of previous generations?

I quite agree with that last point. We have a proposal at present to replace the existing Royal Scottish Academy by a new building which will accommodate 470 students, which is about 100 more than at present. Certainly one wants to see the output increasing.

Can the hon. Gentleman say why there is such a very small amount of money available for the encouragement of pipe bands and the teaching of pipe music?

The encouragement is largely a matter for the local authorities themselves. No doubt the hon. Gentleman will have spoken to his own local authority about this. He will also know that the Scottish Pipe Band Association has had a grant from this Government for the first time in its history.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated coal burn in electricity generation in Scotland for the years 1969 and 1970.

Assuming consumption of the maximum possible amount of coal, about 6·5 million tons in 1969 and about 7·5 million tons in 1970.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that his indication of a further increase in coal burn—indeed, coal by wire—will be welcomed by the miners in Scotland? Would he not agree that he could earn their thanks if he now influenced his right hon. Friend the Minister of Power to investigate coal derivatives?

There has been a considerable increase in coal burn. In 1964–65, it was 4·3 million tons and my hon. Friend will have noticed that the scheme that I announced a week or so ago in relation to Foyers will, in itself, by the mid-1970s lead to the increased use of another 2 million tons. So we are, therefore, looking forward to the possibility of coal burn in Scotland reaching about 8 million tons in the mid-1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities his Department have designated exporting authorities for housing purposes under the Housing and Town Development (Scotland) Act, 1957; what has been the total cost to such authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Glasgow Corporation is the only designated authority in Scotland. I understand that up to the end of its last financial year it had paid just under £720,000 to 45 receiving authorities and that it has estimated its contribution for 1968–69 to be a further £160,000, representing payment for some 11,400 houses.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that this unique burden is grossly unfair to Glasgow? Would he look very closely at the disastrous intention of the Progressive Party to postpone redevelopment schemes and oppose Erskine township because of the financial burden?

I accept that there is a good deal of misunderstanding about this, and I should view with horror, as would my right hon. Friend, any abandonment or slow-down by Glasgow of any of these housing developments. In fairness, the city should face the fact that, on the latest calculations, for a three-apartment house in a multi-storey, the net rateable burden on Glasgow is £100 over 60 years, as opposed to an exporting authority contribution of £14 for 10 years. There is clearly some advantage to the city in accepting this thin-out. I accept my hon. hon. Friend's point and we are very concerned about the attitude of the present administration in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent from October, 1964, until the latest convenient date on housing; and what were the comparable figures for a corresponding period before October, 1964.

I can give information only for financial years. In the three years ended 31st March, 1968, total public investment in new housing was £346 million, and in the previous three years it was £224 million.

As Glasgow makes a substantial contribution to the solution of the housing problem, would my right hon. Friend continue to look closely at Glasgow, since, if there is a reduction in the number of houses completed, it will obviously adversely affect the overall picture which might be presented on his behalf in Scotland?

My hon. Friend is right that we should continue to give special attention to Glasgow, when we remember that Glasgow probably has the greatest burden in respect of houses yet to be improved and those yet to be demolished and replaced. But he should not underestimate what we have already done. In the four years since October, 1964, we have, in public housing, built 133,000, as compared with about 98,600 in the years before that.

I hesitate to disturb the atmosphere of self-congratulation and complacency on the benches opposite, but could the right hon. Gentleman say whether he expects to reach the target of 50,000 houses a year by 1970, or is this just one more example of Socialist failure and of their promises not matching their performance?

Since the highest number ever reached by the party opposite was 39,000 in 1953, they should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves. We are not congratulating ourselves; we are just recognising solid achievement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the Chairman of the Constitutional Commission; and if he will make a statement.

It has not been necessary for me to have any consultations with Lord Crowther since his appointment as Chairman of the Commission was announced, but I am naturally ready to meet him at any time if the need should arise.

But can the right hon. Gentleman explain why, although the Chairman was appointed some weeks ago, no announcement has yet been made about the membership of the Commission or when it is to start work? Have those who have been approached been unwilling to take on the job, or are they already engaged in a similar task?

The hon. Gentleman has let his imagination run riot. He should appreciate that, before the terms of reference could be fixed, a considerable amount of discussion had to take place with other Governments—the Channel Islands, the Isle of Man and Northern Ireland. He should appreciate that it was right that that should be so. The Prime Minister hopes to announce the membership shortly, and I am sure that the Commission will get on with its work as quickly as possible thereafter.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not agree that, if he were to seek consultations now, even at this late stage, it might help the Government to resolve their obvious difficulties in finding suitable persons to serve on the Commission?

Once again, the hon. Lady is wrong. We have had no difficulties in finding the right people.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made as to when the housing shortage will be over in Scotland.

At present there are roughly 50,000 more houses than households in Scotland as a whole, but many of the houses are not where they are needed and many more are of such poor quality that they must be replaced. The Government's vigorous house-building programme must be continued for this purpose, accompanied by the improvement of those existing houses which are sub-standard but need to be kept in use

The Minister for Planning and Land made a statement recently that the national housing shortage should be over by 1973. Does the Secretary of State also believe that, and does it apply to Scotland?

The hon. Gentleman has got wrong the statement of my right hon. Friend. Indeed, he made exactly the same qualifications about the overall position as I have done. I will not fix dates in respect of this. What we will do is build as many houses as possible and improve as many as possible and give the right emphasis at the right time. If the records which we have achieved within two years had been achieved by the hon. Member's party, we would have had no housing shortage in Scotland.

Does the right hon. Gentleman not recall that the increase in house building since 1964 has nothing like kept pace with the increases in taxation during those years? Does not he feel a bit ashamed of that, since it is proof that we are not getting value for our money?

If the hon. Gentleman asks around his constituency, where I have the good fortune to live and the misfortune to be badly represented—by someone who could put a supplementary question like that—he will appreciate that we are getting value for money in housing and that we are getting the housing, which we have been denied for so long in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the increase in the number of licensed premises and recent cases where the licensing appeal courts have reversed unanimous decisions of the licensing court in cases where they have refused to grant licences, he will now consider the need for introducing legislation to transfer the duties of the licensing courts to the sheriffs.

No, Sir. Liquor licensing is an administrative, not a judicial function.

In view of the widespread and mounting alarm at the 30 per cent. increase over the past nine years in the number of licensed premises in Scotland, will not my hon. Friend take the earliest possible action to implement, at least as a first step, that part of the Guest Committee's Report which is supported by the Law Society of Scotland and which recommends that the duties of the licensing appeal courts should be transferred to the sheriffs?

I cannot give any guarantee about early legislation. I think that we must keep in mind on this aspect that basically it is a social rather than a judicial decision.

I think that the Minister is aware that the Law Society has recently been pressing for legislation on this matter. Is he also aware, as his hon. Friend has said, that there is a widely held view in Scotland that the present system is most unsatisfactory? Will he get his priorities for legislation right and get some legislation on the Statute Book on this matter?

I am aware of the attitude of the Law Society and of the general attitude towards this matter. What I said was that I can see no prospect of early legislation on this matter. This does not mean that I do not recognise the feeling on the aspects involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities have withdrawn the supply of milk to secondary pupils under Section 3 of the Public Expenditure and Receipts Act, 1968; how many pupils are involved; what saving has been effected as a result of the withdrawal; and what evidence he has of the effect the withdrawal has on the health of the pupils.

The Act applies to all education authorities. About 306,000 pupils are affected and the saving in this financial year will be about £05 million. I have no evidence of any adverse effect on the health of the pupils.

Is my hon. Friend aware of a recent survey undertaken in the London area which established that a large number of pupils go to school without breakfast because parents go out to work? Will he instigate a similar study to ascertain the position in Scotland? Does he now agree that this cheeseparing economy on the part of the Government, which has saved this paltry sum and has denied secondary school pupils of an essential ingredient in their diets, should be reviewed?

No, I do not think that this calls for review. The survey mentioned by my hon. Friend was commissioned by the National Dairy Council. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has already said that he will look at the figures produced by the survey if the survey will provide certain additional details. The whole question of nutrition affecting school children, and indeed other sectors of the population, is kept under review by the Committee on the Medical Aspects of Nutrition. Before we took this decision we looked at the nutritional consequences.

If it is necessary to withdraw this concession, will the hon. Gentleman seek to ensure that education authorities install vending machines to try to sell as much as possible of this nutritious food, which is essential for the health of the children?

I will certainly look into that matter. I think that there are vending machines in a number of schools at present. As far as I am aware, there is nothing to prevent education authorities doing this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase in the number of places available in teacher training colleges since 1962 to the nearest available date; and how many qualified in each of these years.

The increase in places to date totals 3,945. For the rest of the Answer I will, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. Does he agree that even the number that he has given today certainly proves how successful we have been in providing more places and that it destroys completely the spurious attempts by the Opposition to say that our plans will not succeed?

The number of places has been considerably increased, and the output of qualified teachers has increased by no less than a third over the last three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the increase in full-time students in schools, technical colleges, universities and colleges of education since 1962 to the nearest available date.

The total increase in numbers between sessions 1961–62 and 1967–68 was 63,937 made up of 40,081 pupils and 23,856 full-time students; but, with permission, I will circulate further details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Is my hon. Friend aware that that reply will give immense satisfaction to many parents in Scotland—hon. Gentlemen opposite may scoff, but the election will show how wrong they are on this question?

Order. The hon. Member must not interrupt his own supplementary question.

Is my hon. Friend also aware that if the Opposition, during their 13 years, had taken up the work that they ought to have taken up in this regard, his job would have been much easier?

I am fully aware of all these facts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for expanding or rebuilding the Kirklands Hospital, Bothwell; and if he will make a statement.

The Western Regional Hospital Board accepts the need for replacement of this hospital and is considering where and when this should take place. Replacement, however, will not be possible for a number of years yet.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is one of the oldest hospitals in Scotland? Is he further aware that the staff are performing a magnificent job under very difficult circumstances? As this hospital is already overcrowded and there is a large waiting list, will my hon. Friend have words with the regional hospital board with a view to speeding up its rebuilding?

I agree that this hospital is unsatisfactory and overcrowded, but I am not able yet to say when the rebuilding of it can take place. Questions of priority are, in the first place, for the regional hospital board, but certainly this is one of the hospitals that it has very much in mind in determining priorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to establish in each local authority area approved conveyancing clerks appointed by the local authority to carry out the conveyancing associated with house purchase, in order to reduce the legal costs associated with house purchase and sale.

No, Sir. Apart from the fact that in present circumstances it would not be right to impose such a burden on local authority staffs and finances, I do not believe this is the best way to deal with the problem.

Is my hon. Friend aware that this is one of the bugbears in house purchase? Bearing in mind the conveyancing fees that have to be paid—in some cases the conveyancing is negligible—will he assist young couples to purchase houses by doing what the Question asks?

My hon. Friend knows how complex the conveyancing situation is in Scotland. I think that he knows that the Secretary of State has under urgent review the reform of land tenure and conveyancing law. We are about to make detailed arrangements for the introduction of registration of title, a principle which we accepted some time ago. But we still have the detailed recommendations of the Henry Committee and one or two other matters to consider. I hope that my right hon. Friend will make a statement in a few months.

Does the Minister agree that it might be a useful occupation for some of the members of the useless Land Commission to undertake?

I think that the hon. Gentleman will regret that if he looks at what the Land Commission has done so well in Scotland in relation to the acquisition of land both for local authorities and private owners.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the proportion of buildings on agricultural holdings in Scotland that are now rated.

Precise information of this kind is not available, but I estimate that about 2 per cent. of the agricultural holdings in Scotland have some rated buildings on them.

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the calculations in the Price Review take into account agricultural buildings that are rated?

All such costs are taken into account in discussions on the Annual Price Review.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that figures given the other day showed that in Scotland the total value of buildings rated is half that in England whereas normally it would be only a tenth? Even if the calculations are being taken into account in the agricultural Price Review, how is it possible accurately to bring back this amount into the Scottish agricultural sphere?

I accept the point that there has been a disproportionate increase in the rating of agricultural buildings in Scotland so far. The hon. Gentleman knows the reasons for this increase, and the difficulties in making a precise allocation back in terms of the Annual Price Review. The Annual Price Review makes a general distribution of the costs as the industry and agriculture require it.

In view of the unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to ensure that local authorities in Scotland provide their tenants with adequate fire fighting equipment, particularly in high blocks of flats and buildings of more than two storeys.

Local authorities will no doubt be concerned with recent tragic house fires and look to the maintenance of fire fighting equipment. In addition I hope they will consider sending to all their tenants an advisory leaflet on fire precautions and action in the event of fire, as the Scottish Special Housing Association has done.

Could the Minister clarify whose responsibility it is to provide fire fighting equipment? Does it rest solely on the tenants or do the local authorities have to provide any such equipment?

Without notice, I could not give a definitive legal answer on that point. I should have to look it up.

At the moment local authorities accept the primary responsibility here, and they have a duty to make tenants aware of the need for ordinary care. I hope that they will follow the example of the Scottish Special Housing Association. However, I will write to the hon. Gentleman on that point.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will move to refer the Feudal Reform (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Grand Committee to be considered in relation to its principle under Standing Order No. 62.

No, Sir.

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman for an assurance that he is not in favour of the feudal system nor of the continuation of feu duties in perpetuity? Why is the right hon. Gentleman opposed to debating this issue in the Scottish Grand Committee, and when may we expect legislation appropriate to the case?

I can give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that he wants about my feelings about the feudal system and the perpetuating of feu duties. I have never made any secret about that. I have never made any secret, either, of the fact that to review a system which has been in operation for centuries is a very complex matter, and not one appropriate for private Members' legislation. I can also tell the hon. Gentleman that, as the House knows, we have been engaged in a study of this problem for a considerable time, and we hope to be able to make a statement about it within the next few months.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many hon. Members on this side of the House agree with the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson), but would he further agree that it might have been a suitable subject for a referendum among Scottish people, in line with Liberal Party policy?

If the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) thought it was of overweening priority he could have got this Bill in, instead of his referendum Bill, and the House could have discussed it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the economic uncertainty prevailing in the North-East of Scotland, due to the imminent run-down of the British Railways workshops in Inverurie, he will expedite publication of the Gaskin Report.

While I am arranging for the Gaskin Report to be published as soon as possible, I should point out that the Government have contingency plans in hand to deal with the situation if the British Railways Board decides to close its workshops at Inverurie.

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. I know the great difficulties facing the Government in this issue. May I ask for an assurance that the Government realise that the introduction of a new industry to Inverurie, particularly an engineering industry with growth potential, could stimulate the economy of the whole North-East region of Scotland? The Government have power under the Industrial Expansion Act, 1968, to provide precisely this stimulus.

I assure the hon. Gentleman that we appreciate how valuable a replacement would be in this area if it were necessary. The hon. Gentleman has discussed this with me, and brought delegations to see me. I am grateful for his co-operation in this matter. I think that he should wait to see what we do if and when an announcement is made about the future of the workshops.

Will my right hon. Friend accept that there are many people who do not doubt the wish of the Government to help in this difficult situation, but still feel that the apparent inability of the Railways Board to come to a conclusion about its plans for the future of the workshops is inhibiting the Government and everyone else, is adding to the confusion which is jeopardising the situation, and is continuing the anxiety which tempts the skilled labour force to disperse?

This is regrettable, because there is no doubt that—if a decision were taken to close the workshops—the existence of skilled personnel would be an attraction for many people. I regret the premature rumours which may well have led to the dispersal of some of the personnel.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the extension of agricultural de-rating to intensive livestock houses; and what reply he has sent.

The Scottish National Farmers' Union and the Scottish Landowners' Federation have asked me to consider introducing legislation to de-rate intensive livestock buildings. In addition several hon. Members have written to me on this subject and two individuals have made direct representations. In all cases replies have been given to the effect that the matter is under consideration.

Is it the case that the Government are not going to do anything about this until the question of local authority rating has been considered in general?

We are considering this, and when we have come to conclusions we shall say so.

Can the hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that this matter is receiving urgent attention? I see the Secretary of State nodding assent. May we therefore have an assurance that the deliberations will take a shorter time than those on the Hunter Report?

As Shakespeare said, comparisons are odious, but we are giving the matter urgent consideration. As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Minister for Planning and Land, the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and myself, met the three unions not long ago to discuss this.

Before my hon. Friend proceeds any further with the derating of any more agricultural buildings, will he ensure that none of the buildings so derated is sub-let by owners for other purposes?

I am looking at every aspect of this very complex problem.

May I raise the same point of order as that raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour) on Question No. 30?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assistance will be given towards the transport costs of egg producers in remote areas on the Scottish mainland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the Government's proposals for a subsidy for the transport of eggs from certain areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be able to announce details of his proposals to assist small egg producers in remote areas; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to announce his detailed policy to assist egg producers' transport problems following the recommendations of the Reorganisation Commission.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) on 7th February. Details of the subvention to be given for sea transport are still being considered.—[Vol. 777 c. 188.]

Has the hon. Gentleman considered that the land costs of transport from remote areas to the mainland can be more expensive than, say, sea carriage from the Orkneys to Aberdeen? Has he taken that into account?

As always, all matters are taken into account. The hon. Gentleman will know the recommendation put forward by the Reorganisation Commission which referred to the Orkneys.

What particular reasons are the Government adopting for giving special assistance to a form of transport which is much cheaper than land transport, particularly when the subsidy to Northern Ireland transport is opening up to them a market in Glasgow in much more favourable circumstances than those on the mainland of Scotland?

The hon. Gentleman is asking for the reason. No point of principle is involved. The difficulty of sea passage is recognised in the Special Assistance Scheme for the Isles and Northern Ireland which has operated under successive Governments, including his own.

May I thank the Government for small mercies, and come to their assistance over this issue? Will the Government bear in mind that it is not only a question of the sea transport of eggs south, but the sea transport of foodstuffs north, which is extremely heavy, and that it is not the case that it is cheaper than rail or road?

I am aware of all the problems. As the right hon. Gentleman knows, I do not have his long experience of the Isles, but I have considerable experience of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made on the Inner Ring Road, Glasgow City.

Construction is keeping pace with the programme envisaged in the Corporation's "Highway Plan for Glasgow". Stage I of the Town-head interchange has been completed; stage I of the Woodside stretch is almost complete; the Kingston Bridge and its approaches are two-thirds complete; and work has started on stage II of the Woodside stretch.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many citizens in Glasgow recognise in these projects a great tribute to the previous administration for its planning and its work? Is my hon. Friend aware that since the advent of a new political administration in George Square there has been a trend towards retrenchment, and a cutting back, not only of these projects, but in the development areas? Will he do all that he can to defeat these efforts?

I accept what my hon. Friend says. It causes some concern. My hon. Friend will be glad to know that the final part of the inner ring road that we authorised, that is, the Charing Cross section, is estimated to cost £6·2 million, of which the Government will contribute £4·7 million. I take my hon. Friend's point that it is important to keep these road developments and other developments going at the present pace.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take following the inquiry into the James Watt Street fire in Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 5th March, 1969.—[Vol. 779, c. 113.]

Is my right hon. Friend aware that both sides of the House would like to express their appreciation of the extent and thoroughness of the report? May I ask when it is likely to be published? Does my right hon. Friend agree that, while we await the Holroyd Report on future provisions for fire prevention, there is a moral obligation on all owners of factories to ensure that the bars on old buildings comply with the existing legislation, and thereby help to ease the minds of many people in Glasgow?

I thank my hon. Friend for what he said at the outset of his supplementary question. He will be aware that as the inquiry was in public the public were kept informed of all that was involved. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity promised a statement following the interdepartmental discussions on the recommendations of the jury, and I shall bear that in mind. There will be a meeting on this subject next week, I hope, between Glasgow Corporation, officials of my Department, and the Department of Employment and Productivity.

Has the right hon. Gentleman received any requests from Glasgow for assistance in its present campaign to clean up potential fire traps? Is he considering introducing legislation about barred windows and can he comment on the unfortunate development relating to insurance cover in respect of the relatives of victims?