asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate a discussion on the IMEG report on the next occasion he takes the chair at the Scottish Economic Council.

As I informed the hon. Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Lambie) on 21st February, all aspects of oil development are regularly discussed at meetings of the Scottish Economic Council. The IMEG report in particular was on the council's agenda for its last meeting on 9th February when the head of the Offshore Supplies Office of the Department of Trade and Industry was present. The council will continue to keep the matter under regular review.—[Vol. 851, c. 95–6.]

I thank the Secretary of State for that answer. How does he propose to keep the IMEG recommendations monitored in Scottish terms? How does he propose to dissuade his ministerial colleagues in the Department of Trade and Industry from thinking exclusively of London as the oil capital of the world and to get them to recognise that Scotland should become the offshore oil development capital of the world?

Besides the Scottish Economic Council, there are the Committee of the Scottish Economic Planning Board and various other bodies which have been set up to keep all questions of North Sea oil under consideration. As regards the new body, the Offshore Supplies Offices, the new Scottish Petroleum Office is working closely with its neighbour in Glasgow, the Scottish Industrial Development Office, and is effectively equipped to stimulate and advise Scottish industry on all kinds of opportunities which are becoming available through the supply of North Sea oil.

Is the Secretary of State satisfied that the establishment of this minuscule offshore oil office in Glasgow will meet the needs of Scotland in terms of oil development?

It is what is required to carry out the job of stimulating and advising Scottish industry as a whole. The Scottish Industrial Development Office covers the whole of Scottish industry and is its neighbour. It is most important to get industries which did not realise it before to appreciate that they now have an opportunity to take advantage of the supply of North Sea oil and all that this means in terms of the many products which will be needed. I believe that in regard to North Sea oil the centre of gravity of the oil industry in Britain will move north. Indeed, I think it is starting to move north and I shall do everything possible to encourage it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to implement the recommendations of the IMEG report on North Sea oil in so far as they fall within his responsibility.

The IMEG report recommended that urgent attention be given to infrastructure. This is being done through the Scottish Economic Planning Board and its North Sea Oil Development Committee.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that it went much further than that? Does he not agree that Scottish industry still seems to be losing out on the enormous opportunities which are available to it? Does he agree that the Chancellor's statement in the Budget will ensure that we get an adequate return on revenue from the enormous profits which will be made from oil? Was he consulted before that statement was made, and did he agree with it?

First, my answer was to the Question about the parts of the IMEG report falling within my responsibility, and that is what I have stated, that it is broadly infrastructure. But of course there were other recommendations which fall within the responsibilities of my right hon. Friends. These are all being considered. The Government are, of course, taking into account the important report by the Public Accounts Committee on this subject, and that was what the Chancellor did in his Statement.

What are the means of communication between the central planning board and the various local planning authorities, and how is that carried out?

The Economic Planning Board, which is the body to which I think my hon. Friend is referring, consists of the permanent representatives of all Government Departments and nationalised industries. That works for the Scottish Economic Council, but it is in touch with and has representatives on all the central Government bodies which are operating in the field. It is of course in direct touch with local authorities. Where planning is concerned, local authorities are planning authorities and there is the procedure of the Town and Country Planning Acts for Scotland, which brings in the Secretary of State in certain important matters.

But is it not high time that the Government got on with some of the major recommendations of the IMEG report with regard to Scottish industry? In particular, when will they take action, which is overdue, to ensure that Scottish East Coast shipyards obtain a substantial share of the important market for supply vessels?

On the first point, the Government have already taken action on some of the recommendations which could be acted on straight away. This was announced, and others are still being considered. The question of shipbuilding has been raised many times in the House and is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, although of course we would all like to see work of this kind for British yards, and particularly for Scottish yards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Ayr County Council on the question of filling the vacancy to Irvine Development Corporation; and if he will make a statement.

The county council has represented that my right hon. Friend should appoint its sole nominee forthwith, but he still requires from the council a list of names which, in the usual way, offers him an effective choice in filling the vacancy.

Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to listen to Ayr County Council and to appoint the sole nominee, Councillor Robert Beattie, to fill this vacancy on the Irvine Development Corporation? Since this long-dragged-out affair is beginning to smell of political corruption—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—may we have a guarantee that the Secretary of State is not waiting for a major-general or civil servant to retire to be given this job?

The hon. Gentleman may have a guarantee that my right hon. Friend is anxious to carry out the normal procedure agreed in appointments of this kind and is awaiting a list of members from which he can make a choice. This is the way it has been done since the new town corporations were set up.

Bearing in mind that the sole nominee is a well-respected county councillor in my constituency, may I ask whether the hon. Gentleman will assure the House that he has nothing against this man personally?

Most certainly I am glad to give that assurance to the right hon. Gentleman. I hope that a list can be provided from which my right hon. Friend can make a meaningful choice—which is the method originally laid down by the right hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) as the way in which it should be done.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give a general direction to the electricity boards that where they cut off the supply of electricity to any house inhabited by children below the age of 16 years they must report the matter to the appropriate local authority social work department.

Following consultations which my right hon. Friend initiated through his Social Work Services Group, comprehensive guidance will shortly be sent to local officials of the electricity boards and the social services with the aim of identifying and dealing with problems before and not after a household is disconnected. I consider that this is the best way to proceed.

Will the hon. Gentleman accept that his answer will be warmly received throughout Scotland and that this is a significant step forward? Is he aware that I have had recent complaints from social workers in my constituency about practices adopted by electricity boards and that I have investigated individual cases, including one where a young child was burned with water from a boiling kettle which was being used to pour water into a tin bath? Does he agree that these Dickensian methods are not the ones which we should be encouraging through public authorities in Scotland?

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for drawing attention to this matter and I very much agree with what he has said. The electricity boards are extremely anxious to be as careful and as humane as they can in this matter and they have co-operated willingly in this initiative.

In view of the welcome action taken by my hon. Friend, will he now invite boards to reconsider the installation of prepayment meters since the existence of such meters may prevent many families from getting into substantial arrears?

The boards are conscious of the difficulties that this can cause and I will draw my hon. Friend's suggestion to their attention.

Can guidance be given to the boards to stop the practice of large deposits being required before electricity is reconnected? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that for many poorer families the requirement of a large deposit means that they will never get the supply reconnected?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the electricity boards conducted a careful study of this problem a few months ago. I understand that they have now resolved this matter to the satisfaction of the consultative council which discussed it with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will encourage the Forestry Commission to make Highland land available to the local community for housing.

The Forestry Commission already disposes of any surplus land suitable for building which from time to time may become available.

Is it not intolerable that in a sparsely populated area like the Highlands landlords should extract artificially high prices for land for housing and other developments? Will the hon. Gentleman at least use his influence with the Forestry Commission to try to alleviate this serious problem?

I understand that the Question applies to the Forestry Commission and not to other landlords. If the Forestry Commission has surplus land it makes it available to local authorities, and the local authorities have a chance to buy it when the Forestry Commission disposes of it.

Has my hon. Friend had any suggestions from the hon. Member about how to nationalise the Forestry Commission more effectively?

No. I was interested to see over the weekend that certain interests in the Highlands, notably the Crofters' Union, are against further nationalisation.

When will the Government publish their proposals on forestry? Can the hon. Gentleman say what thinking the Government are giving to the fact that in the Highland areas there are increasing numbers of jobs in oil-related industries which are very much better paid than jobs in forestry? If this tendency continues, some of the social arguments which carry weight with the Government for the maintenance of forestry will disappear. Will the hon. Gentleman therefore look at the importance of forestry in itself as a contribution to solving our balance of payments?

As the hon. Gentleman is aware, we have published a consultative document on forestry policy. This is still subject to consultations with forestry interests and with the Forestry Commission. We shall take into account the very important social factors and the economic factors in relation to the balance of payments which the hon. Gentleman has mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the rate of progress in the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement on the further action which he proposes to take.

As I told the hon. Gentleman on 13th December—[Vol. 848, c. 137–8]—and the hon. Member for Lanarkshire, North (Mr. John Smith) on 21st February—[Vol. 851, c. 454–5]—there has in recent months been a marked improvement in the economic outlook for Scotland. But in the longer term the health of the Scottish economy will depend upon the success of our counter-inflation measures and the maintenance of a high rate of growth.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when we measure the progress of the Scottish economy by the number of new jobs created per 100 persons unemployed it is seen that, in relation to the rest of the United Kingdom, Scotland is progressing the least satisfactorily of any region except Northern Ireland, which has its own peculiar problems? Can the right hon. Gentleman say, if he is satisfied at the moment, whether we shall get Scottish unemployment below 100,000 in the coming year?

I repeat what I have said before. I shall never be satisfied with any results, and I am not satisfied now. However, the hon. Gentleman ought to welcome the change in the unemployment trends compared with a year ago, because they have improved ever since then. He ought particularly to welcome the last figures which show a drop in the number of wholly unemployed in Scotland of nearly 10,000.

As some Scottish industrialists take the view that the maintenance of the welcome improvement in the economy will depend on the continuance of the regional employment premium, has it been established whether the Common Market will allow us to continue it, assuming that the Government wish to do it?

At present there is no question of our infringing our obligations to the Common Market in any way. The Government's policy, stated before we came to office, was that before being phased out REP should run for the full length of seven years arranged by the Labour Government. In doing that we shall not infringe our obligations to the Common Market.

On the subject of the allocation of advance factories to Scotland, is the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that the allocation of 10 out of a total of 50 advance factories is adequate to meet the future needs of the restructured economy of Scotland, in view of the fact that there are vast areas of Scotland where no advance factories have been allocated? I have in mind Stirling, for example.

I recognise the hon. Gentleman's plea for his constituency. The last programme of advance factories announced only a few weeks ago produced the largest single amount of advance factories in any announcement for Scotland that there has ever been.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to alter building regulations so that all building authorities can be granted power to award costs to anyone who at his own expense proves that building regulations have been contravened.

My right hon. Friend has no such plans. I am sending the hon. Gentleman a detailed reply to his recent letter on this subject addressed to my right hon. and learned Friend the Lord Advocate.

In view of that reply, may I asked whether the hon. Gentleman is aware that in a county area anyone who is able to prove that building regulations have been contravened regarding his own property must bear the cost himself, whereas had he been living in a burgh area he would have some redress through the dean of guild court? Should not the law be harmonised for both authorities? Will my constituent, who has had to spend £100 to prove that his builder contravened the regulations, have any redress even in a civil court of law?

There is some anomaly about this. The dean of guild courts which are buildings authorities in some cases were originally judicial courts with powers to grant expenses which other buildings authorities which are not dean of guild courts do not have. As for the hon. Gentleman's constituent, although formal objections were not lodged when the plans were submitted originally the authority ensured that the firm concerned later met complaints made by the objector. I accept in this case that it is not satisfactory that there should be one authority able to give expenses and another not, but that is a matter which would have to be dealt with in legislation.

It looks as if this anomaly will be removed by wiping out the dean of guild courts. Since we have legislation before us, will the hon. Gentleman take action to use that opportunity to resolve this matter in a manner which retains and extends the rights of all individuals?

What is to be done for the future is a matter which we can consider. There would be quite a lot of difficult repercussions if we made the award of expenses mandatory in cases of this sort. But I should want to consider that carefully before committing myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional expenditure will be allocated to Midlo- thian Education Authority for pre-school education.

My right hon. Friend has authorised Midlothian Education Authority to start nursery education building work amounting to £135,000 in each of the years 1974–75 and 1975–76.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for that information. He will be aware that some time ago Midlothian County Council submitted a scheme for preschool education in the Livingston and Mayfield areas. Whereas the sum of money which the hon. Gentleman announced will contribute to some extent towards that, does he not agree that it would be more helpful to education authorities, not only in Midlothian but all over Scotland, if he were to withdraw the notorious circular 814?

I hope the hon. Gentleman will realise that this substantial sum of £270,000 will go some way towards meeting the needs of nursery education in Midlothian. The priorities of the education authority as to where it wishes to spend the money will be carefully considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received, and from what sources, following the incident off the Faroe Isles with a Danish gunboat involving Scottish trawlers.

The Scottish Trawlers' Federation made representations about this incident and sought confirmation that British vessels have full rights to continue operating up to the 12-mile limit round the Faroes. This assurance has been given.

Will my hon. Friend undertake that the Government will stand firm on the position he has outlined? Will he underline the importance to the Scottish fishing industry of the Faröese waters by stating the proportion of the Scottish catch caught there?

The Government have made their position entirely clear on this issue. I must again emphasise how important is the fishing around the Faroes to the Scottish fleet. Last year 16 per cent. by weight and 17 per cent. by value of the Scottish catch came from those waters. For the Aberdeen fleet the proportion is even higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reroutings of the A9 north of Tain he will propose.

My right hon. Friend will be willing to consider rerouting trunk road A9 to cross the Dornoch Firth as soon as he can find a place for this scheme in the road programme.

I hope that that reply is encouraging, although I am afraid that it is couched in ambiguity. Has the hon. Gentleman noticed that the total population of Sutherland has fallen in the last two years from about 13,000 to about 12.000, that this is largely due to people being unable to live in Sutherland and commute to the growth area in Easter Ross and that this has now become a matter of the viability of Sutherland as a community? Does he not realise that delay in this matter will lead to the most appalling clearance of the population of this country? Will he now take an entirely fresh look at the problem?

I can appreciate the hon. Member's feelings about this as it affects his constituency in the way he has described. I would certainly be only too willing to consider any new evidence produced by the steering committee which has been set up on this matter. As the hon. Gentleman knows, we are spending a vast amount of money on the whole of the A9 including the crossings of two other firths. We must make progress before we can definitely fix a place for this in the programme, although I recognise that it is very desirable.

Given the Minister's fixed commitments in the road programme, when is the earliest that he could authorise this?

It is not possible to say, but we have announced plans for the rebuilding of the whole of the A9 at what is a very fast speed—namely, to complete the task in five years, which is faster than any such scheme has been completed before. We have already set in train the crossing of two firths. I hope hon. Members recognise that that is a pretty good effort by any standard.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified and experienced teachers who were dismissed from their employment for refusal to register with the General Teaching Council are still living; how many are still of an age to qualify for reinstatement; and what has been their aggregate loss of earnings since they were improperly dismissed.

So far as I am aware all the 18 teachers concerned are still living; ages at present range from 28 to 62; to what extent there has been loss of earnings depends on personal circumstances, and details of these are not available to me.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that information, so far as it goes. While recognising that the Scottish Education Department has got itself into a pretty pickle as a result of the flagrantly improper conduct of the right hon. Member for Kilmarnock (Mr. Ross) when in office, may I ask my hon. Friend nevertheless to recognise that it is a bit much that this small number of teachers should be put to still further expense to establish what Lord Keith has shown to be their entitlement? Will he therefore now reinstate them, where reinstatement is appropriate, and provide compensation for loss of earnings for the lot of them?

As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend at Question Time on the last occasion, this is a most important matter and we appreciate my hon. Friend's interest in it. Until this case has been taken to the Inner House, however, it would be wrong for me to make any further statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he remains satisfied with the progress of the brucellosis eradication scheme in Scotland; what estimate he has made of when the whole of Scotland will he free from this disease; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Banff (Mr. W. H. K. Baker) on 21st February. It is impossible to forecast at this stage when eradication will be completed in Scotland, but the current rate of progress, with about half our cattle now accredited, is encouraging.—[Vol. 851, c. 95.]

I congratulate my hon. Friend on the work which he and his Department have done in this matter. What incidents have there been recently of human beings contracting the disease?

The question of disease in human beings is not one which concerns my Department. Certainly the only way in which we can finally eradicate this disease among human beings is by carrying through fully and vigorously the eradication among the cattle stock in Scotland.

How are the discussions going with the National Farmers' Union about the anomaly which has been uncovered under the voluntary eradication scheme as regards tax reliefs when cattle have been slaughtered? When does the hon. Gentleman hope that the Government will be able to announce their proposals to deal with this?

This is a matter for discussion in regard to individual cases. If the hon. Gentleman has a particular case that he would like to draw to my attention I should be pleased if he would write to me.

What kind of comparison is there between the figures for England and Wales and the 50 per cent. that my hon. Friend mentioned for Scotland?

Both in relation to the rate that we have achieved so far and also in relation to the new eradication areas which we have been able to announce I am glad to say that I think that we are leading our friends south of the border.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his latest discussions on the proposed Edinburgh Opera House.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 31st January.—[Vol. 849, c. 1333.]

Why on earth not, since the discussions have been taking place?

Because Edinburgh Corporation has not yet responded to my communication.

In view of the fact that the Edinburgh Opera House is not likely to be built until the reorganisation of local government, and since the Arts and Civic Council work is a function of district authorities, will the financing of the opera house be undertaken by the Forth regional authority with assistance from the Government or will the district council have the authority to go ahead?

I am concerned with the immediate future, and if, as I hope, Edinburgh Corporation decides to accept my proposals and proceed with the scheme, the arrangements would go ahead under Edinburgh Corporation. When the changes in local government take place, this kind of matter would have to be decided once the successor authority was known.

On a point of order. In view of the unsatisfactory nature—

Order. I am afraid that I did not hear the hon. Gentleman. Mr. Hall.

Is my right hon. Friend in a position to give us some idea of the estimated annual loss which is likely to arise from the scheme?

I do not think one should speak in terms of active loss. In matters of this kind there are always Government subsidies. The largest Government subsidies go to opera in London. Without notice I am unable to give any figures, but I think that it would be difficult for anyone to agree upon an annual loss.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Annual loss of what?

That is not a point of order.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new housing submissions were made by Scottish local authorities in January and February this year.

Local authorities submitted schemes for 193 houses in January and 390 in February for formal approval to proceed, and preliminary cost plan proposals for a further 449 houses in January and 1,025 in February.

The Minister will appreciate that the submissions were the first figures that he gave, not the latter figures, which relate to cost plan proposals. Is he aware that against the background of these figures he will soon be another victim of redundancy as a result of the Government's policies? Is he satisfied with these figures of submissions in January and February as a contribution towards solving the housing problem in Scotland?

I did not say that. The hon. Gentleman will know that an exceptionally large number of submissions was made at the end of 1971 because of the attractiveness of the scheme introduced by the Government as part of the Housing Finance Act arrangements. There is now a rising trend of approvals and starts in housing compared with a falling trend in the last three years of the Labour Government's tenure of office. The number of houses of all kinds now under construction in Scotland totals over 40,000, which augurs well for the next few years.

Will my hon. Friend give some guidance to the House by telling us how we can make hon. Gentlemen on the Opposition side look cheerful about good news?

That is not one of the many matters which comes under my responsibilities, but I shall be glad to help my hon. Friend with any suggestions he may produce.

If this is good news for the hon. Gentleman, he has a strange idea about the needs of Scotland. These are about the worst figures we have ever had. Are they an indication of how unattractive the long-term proposals are compared with the short-term offer that was given? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that the long-term proposals will prove very serious for the future house building programme in Scotland?

I do not agree with the right hon. Gentleman. When we have rising approvals and starts we can expect to receive rising completions in a year or two. He may be glad to know that in 1970 there were 17,061 approvals for local authority houses, in 1971 there were 19,376 and in 1972 there were 23,489.

What will they be this year?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to bring into force Parts II and III of the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act 1971; and if he will make a statement.

Sections 32 to 34 of Part III, which established the Sheriff Court Rules Council and defined its functions, were brought into force on 1st November 1971, and my right hon. Friend has made an order bringing Part II into operation on 1st April 1973. I cannot say as yet when the remainder of Part III will be brought into force. This will depend on when the Rules Council completes the new rules of court in the preparation of which it is now actively engaged.

I thank the Under-Secretary for that reply. Does he appreciate that it is almost two years since the Sheriff Courts (Scotland) Act was enacted? Is he aware that people, particularly legal practitioners and those concerned with the sheriff courts, are anxious not only that new buildings should be provided as quickly as possible under the new administration but that the small debt or summary courts procedure should be brought into force as soon as possible?

I certainly appreciate what the hon. and learned Gentleman says about this matter. I do not think we have dragged our feet on Part II. As to Part III, I think he will agree that we must have the deliberations of the Rules Council completed first. The council has had many meetings since it was set up in December 1971. I am sure that the members of the council will note what has been said in the House this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has completed his considerations about setting up a new body with advisory powers for overall planning as recommended by the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs; and if he will make a statement.

I am examining the many recommendations of the Select Committee on Scottish Affairs on land resource use, and the Government will in due course give their considered views on them.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there is need for speed on this matter? Is he satisfied that enough overall planning is being done in advance? Is he also satisfied that the expertise in Scottish planning overall is tough and quick enough to meet the pressures of development, particularly that produced by the demands of the North Sea oil industry?

I agree that the Government's reply should be brought forward as soon as possible. We are considering this important report very fully. The matters raised by my hon. Friend are important but I should stress that the present planning machinery relating to North Sea oil has not, so far as I know, been responsible for any delays to important projects.

The right hon. Gentleman has had the report for five months. Does he agree that the recommendations particularly relating to land use are urgently in need of application? Will he speed up his efforts to ensure that before we do irreparable damage to many parts of Scotland we at least give the Select Committee's recommendations a fair trial?

These matters will be dealt with when the Government's reply is presented. The hon. Gentleman will know, because he played an important part in the Select Committee's deliberations, that this complicated subject, which is related to planning Acts and other matters, is not one to which a quick answer can be given.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that his own incompetence has got him into difficulty with planning for both the Tay and the Forth estuaries? How does he propose to deal with planning in those two areas?

I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman has said. I am not talking about the personal side. I believe that this matter was capable of two solutions and, in a democratic way, one solution has been chosen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce the next school building allocation for Perthshire.

I hope to notify all education authorities fairly soon of their allocations for primary and secondary school building starts in 1974–75. They were informed on 1st March of their allocations for nursery education building starts in that year.

Does my hon. Friend accept that among other local needs the Perth Grammar School must be completed, that the Blairgowrie High School, in which I declare a parental interest, needs extension, that there is a pressing need for the provision of primary school facilities in North Muirton and that, taken together, they show that the next allocation will have to be very substantial indeed?

I know of my hon. Friend's particular concern for Perth Grammar School and Blairgowrie High School from his visits to see me. His representations and the priorities of the education authority will be given careful consideration before my right hon. Friend announces the allocation for 1974–75.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, following the recent appointment of a new chairman of the North of Scotland Hydro Electricity Board, he has plans for merging the Hydro Board into the South of Scotland Electricity Board.

No, Sir.

I am delighted to hear that. Will my right hon. Friend tell us what other reasons he had for appointing as chairman of the hydro board someone who was well known to be not exactly sympathetic to the independence of the board? Does he realise the kind of fears which are bound to arise and be created when such a person is appointed as the head of a board? Was there no one else in the whole of Scotland who did not have these disadvantages capable of undertaking the job?

I do not accept what my hon. Friend has said. I am glad, therefore, to tell him definitely that there is no question of the new chairman changing the status of the board. The reason for the choice was that, as in other appointments, he was the best available person for the post.

If the Secretary of State has any future plans to merge these boards, may I ask him to give the House an assurance that he will first dismiss this retired civil servant whose appointment was a shocking blow to Scotland? Will lie also assure the House that there will be no more appointments of rear admirals, diplomats and retired civil servants to these important organisations?

The hon. Gentleman has chosen just a small sector of the appointments. Many other persons have been appointed, of all kinds, including an eminent gynaecologist to be chairman of the Scottish Tourist Board. He was appointed by my predecessor. But this particular appointment is a part-time appointment. Others naturally considered would be people in business and industry. The question was whether they had enough time from all their other jobs to be able to do this. Some of those for consideration were older than the person who has been appointed, because in industry and business people retire about 10 years later than people retire in the Civil Service.

Read the article in the Glasgow Herald.

The Glasgow Herald article, which has just been mentioned, contains favourable comments on some of the appointments I have made—for example, to the Countryside Commission and the White Fish Authority.

Is the Secretary of State aware that those of us who have some affection for Sir Douglas Haddow believe that he had earned a quiet and decent retirement after his term at the Scottish Office? Is not the right hon. Gentleman in danger of devaluing the enterprise of the Scottish people by the series of appointments of retired people from elsewhere when there must be vigorous people in their middle life able to take on these top jobs?

First, there are plenty of precedents, including the chairman and deputy chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, of persons of exactly the same kind, senior civil servants. People may be retired but that does not mean that they are necessarily elderly. The deputy chairman of the Highland and Islands Development Board is the youngest member of the board of seven. He is 14 years younger than the person he was replacing, who was a retired civil servant at the age of 60 when appointed by my predecessor. The real test of these appointments is surely how those appointed are doing about two years later, and on that they have so far been successful.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman feel that it would have been far better to have left Tom Fraser where he was? One of the reasons for the dismay in this matter is the activities of the Scottish Office in the past with regard to this board. Will the right hon. Gentleman give an assurance that if any suggestion comes from the board, under its new chairman, about a merger, he will resist it?

I have already dealt with the question of mergers. There is no proposal of that kind before the Government or being considered by the Government. This is a matter for the Government and not for the chairman of the hydro board. As regards Mr. Tom Fraser, that was a previous appointment and it was a political appointment. But he is now moving to another job, which he has welcomed and in which he can continue useful activity. He is older than Sir Douglas Haddow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average payment to be made in rates by the average householder this year; and what were the comparable payments 5, 10 and 15 years previously.

In 1972–73 the average rate payment by householders, excluding domestic water rate, is estimated to be £61·09; comparable figures for 1967–68, 1962–63 and 1957–58 were £38·90, £29·92 and £25·56 respectively

As these figures show that the average domestic rate payment has more than doubled in 10 years, and as the burden has now become so substantial, does not my hon. Friend agree that the time may be right to have a careful look at a general alternative to the system of rates, which is an unfair system that discriminates unfairly between individuals?

I thank my hon. Friend for his suggestion. We are considering very carefully all the suggestions that have been made to us following the publication of the Green Paper on local government finance. But none of the alternatives seems hopeful at present until the changes in national taxation which we have in mind have been effected.

In regard to the rate burden, what progress are the Government making in the consideration they are giving to the question whether domestic central heating should come off the rates in order to alleviate that burden for ratepayers?

This has been a problem for some time. At present this is not something which we intend to alter. Concerning central heating, the system was improved substantially a few years ago in relation to hardship at that time to people who installed a central heating system.

By how much does the Minister expect the rate burden to increase in the year 1973–74? What steps are being taken to protect the domestic ratepayer during the supposed price freeze?

We have indeed taken steps to help the domestic ratepayer on two particular items, one of which I have mentioned—that is, that the rate burden from the housing accounts will be more than halved over the next few years as a result of the Housing Finance Act. We have introduced a new and much more generous consideration for rate rebates, which will help those on low incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many disabled people in Scotland have been registered under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Scotland) Act 1972.

At the end of 1971, the latest date for which complete information is available, 28,800 disabled persons were receiving social work services from local authorities. Registration is not a statutory requirement.

Following the passage last year of the Act which received support in all parts of the House, was it not the intention of the Government to secure this in effect even though it was not formal statutory registration? What circulars have been or are to be issued following the Act to encourage directors in social work to take the steps which are already taken in England and Wales?

There were two important circulars, one of which was issued in April last year, before the Bill was enacted. I agree that it was an important Bill. It was put through the House with the help of my right hon. Friend. This matter was spelt out again in much greater detail by the circular in September 1972. Substantial progress is being made now, and the welcome publicity from the Act and from the booklet which the Scottish Office will publish next week, "Help for the Handicapped People in Scotland", will help to bring this service to as many disabled people as possible.

These figures are very disturbing indeed. We heard recently from the Secretary of State that the total of permanently disabled people in Scotland was 108,000, yet only 20,000 have registered according to the Minister's statement today. Is the hon. Gentleman aware that many local authorities in Scotland are paying scant attention to the circulars coming from St. Andrew's House? What action is he prepared to take towards these local authorities which are not complying with Sections 1 and 2 of the Act, thus causing unnecessary suffering to many disabled people in Scotland?

I hope that when the 1972 figures are available—they can become available only when local authorities supply them to me—they will show a substantial increase in the number of people who are recorded. But with the publicity that the House is giving to this matter today, and through the powerful work of the Social Work Services Group in Scotland, I hope that we shall get a much larger number of disabled people within the ambit of the social work service so that they can receive all the benefits to which they are entitled.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of houses in Scotland is classified as being in urgent need of demolition or improvement in each local authority area.

About 10 per cent. in Scotland as a whole. Information for each local authority area is not available centrally.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that among local authorities in Scotland there is a growing loss of confidence in any measures which the Government attempt to take to increase the number of local authority houses or homes? Is he further aware of the Government's deplorable record in house building in Scotland? Does not the Minister agree that the ceiling for money spent on overall house renovations in Scotland is far too low? Will he consider increasing the grant in that respect?

I do not accept the first two points. Local authorities are finding increasingly that the new subsidy arrangements under the Housing Finance Act are very good for confidence in house building and house improvement. As they are discovering also, they are getting more subsidy under this system than they did under the older one.

As the availability and cost of land is often a factor in local authorities speeding up demolition, what steps have the Government taken, in the light of the Budget speech, to find out the private landowners who are delaying the building of houses even though they have planning permission? Will the hon. Gentleman publish this information?

We still have to process the information which will arise under that provision in the Budget, but it is not thought that there is a serious problem in Scotland through the development of land with planning permission being unreasonably delayed. If I can obtain any evidence of delay, I shall be prepared to follow it up.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to arrange an early meeting with the Scottish Council of the Confederation of British Industry to discuss the most recent developments in the Scottish economy.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Development has already arranged a meeting for Friday 16th March. This is part of the close and regular contact which I and my colleagues maintain with bodies representing all aspects of industry in Scotland.

Will the right hon. Gentleman cast his mind back to an occasion during Question Time last month when he maintained that few people favoured the continuance of the regional employment premium? Does he recall that on that very day the CBI made representations to the Government to continue REP until 1978 and predicted unemployment of 20,000 to 50,000 if REP were not continued?

Since the Question Time at which this matter last arose it has been announced in the Press that the CBI has changed its mind. However, I have had no representations direct from the Scottish CBI on this matter. The hon. Gentleman misrepresented what I said, because I said that there were differing views. For example, some people in the service industries, which are important industries for Scotland, are critical of a system which discriminates against them. [HON. MEMBERS: "Who?"]

Will my right hon. Friend nevertheless bear in mind that the abolition of REP will slant still further the present system of incentives in favour of capital-intensive industries? Many of us think that the balance is already too far that way. If there are difficulties from a Community point of view about continuing REP, will my right hon. Friend give careful thought to the possibility of imposing a congestion tax on employment in areas of over-congestion which would do much more good to the economy in Scotland than anything in the Industry Act?

These views have been advanced but they are for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I will ensure that my hon. Friend's views, which he has had opportunities to put on other occasions, are brought to my right hon. Friend's attention.

Does the Secretary of State recollect that on the last occasion I asked him who was against REP in Scotland and he said that he could not answer without notice? Now that he has had about one month's notice, will he tell us who they are?

Does the right hon. Gentleman recollect that on that occasion I said that if the Opposition had not heard businessmen discussing the pros and cons of REP, they were completely out of touch?

Will the Secretary of State undertake that the effects of the abolition of REP will be considered at the meeting on the 16th and that the effect of levying VAT on transport and freight under the new policies which will come into being consequent upon our entry into the Common Market will also be considered?

It is extremely useful that in two days' time my hon. Friend will be seeing the Scottish Council of the CBI, whose members will no doubt avail themselves of that opportunity to raise these matters. If they do not, I am sure that my hon. Friend will.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average cost of three- and four-apartment houses in 1970, 1971, and 1972 and until the latest available date.

The average costs of providing local authority houses of three-and four-apartments were, respectively, in 1970 £4,485 and £4,785, in 1971 £4,793 and £5,186, and in 1972—provisionally—£5,162 and £5,650.

Will the Under-Secretary now come clean, for a change, and agree that the exorbitant price of land is one of the criteria in the high cost of housing in Scotland and recognise that, because of unemployment and low wages in Scotland, in the private sector young people find it increasingly difficult to get the necessary mortgage? What do the Government intend to do about it?

I share the hon. Gentleman's concern about rising house prices, which worry many people greatly apart from myself. I do not agree with the hon. Gentleman's statements of fact. The fact is that the proportion of the price of a new house which is represented by land has not significantly altered as a percentage of the whole in Scotland. Although last year the increase in house prices over the previous year was about 15·3 per cent., over the same period wages rose on average by 17·3 per cent.

Can my right hon. Friend now tell the House what is the cost to ratepayers in Scotland of houses built in the wrong places in response to the urgings of right hon. and hon. Members opposite during their tenure of office and which have stood emtpy ever since?

I regret that without notice I cannot tell my hon. Friend the cost. I share my hon. Friend's concern about it. It emphasises that what is needed today more than anything else in Scotland's house building programme is more houses built in the right places, where they are needed. The new system which we have introduced encourages local authorities to do exactly that. They will get every possible help from me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give special assistance to the Zetland County Council in dealing with the situation over school buildings at Whalsay which lost their roofs during a recent gale.

I understand that the education authority will put forward proposals for new permanent building at this school. I shall have regard to the priority which it attaches to this project in determining school building allocations.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that this will all take time and that meanwhile this quite exceptional event has caused grave disquiet and disruption to education on Whalsay? Will the Scottish Office undertake to make a special effort to get these buildings put right and bear part of the cost?

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's concern. He will realise from the letter I have written to him that the education authority has taken steps to look after the safety of the children. It is now up to the education authority to write to the Scottish Education Department and tell the Department what it wants to do. We will consider the priorities in the light of what the authority says.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his visit to Kenya and his more recent talks with Kenyan Ministers.

My right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development visited Kenya in February. Details of his visit were given to the House in reply to a Question on 9th March.

Is there any agreement on the rate of intake of Kenyan Asians into Britain? What assistance is being given to speed up the resettlement of Africans on small European mixed farms so that Europeans can return to Britain with their capital?

Special vouchers for United Kingdom passport holders in Kenya are being issued at the same rate as before. The rate of admission of United Kingdom passport holders to this country for resettlement is maintained at numbers within the order of magnitude of recent years. As was announced in the House last week, we have recently given £7 million to facilitate the continuation of the transfer of farms in this manner.

Can the Under-Secretary dispel some of the alarmist talk there has been in the House about the situation of the British Asians in Kenya and confirm that their exit is proceeding normally and in co-operation with the Kenyan Government?

I am glad to do that. I am very much obliged to the hon. Gentleman for so stating it.

Does my hon. Friend agree that the wisest course at present would be not to make too many demands on the Kenyan Government when the situation in East Africa is such that the Kenyan Government may of their own accord choose to adopt policies which are in no way disagreeable to the interests of Britain?

I am obliged to my hon. Friend also. I entirely agree with what he has said.

Will the Minister reaffirm that the rate of Kenyanisation is a matter for the Kenyan Government and and that the British Government will not, by anything they say, seek to embarrass the Kenyan Government in this matter?

This is entirely a matter for the Kenyan Government and we go along with them on it.

In order to dispel some of the more alarmist rumours that have been put about in certain organs of the Press, will my hon. Friend confirm that there is no question of any part of this bargain being either a reduced or an increased intake of British Kenyan Asians wishing to leave that country.

Our arrangements with the Kenyan Government are as before. They are proceeding perfectly smoothly and with the greatest possible friendliness.

Has the point raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan) about the rate of Kenyanisation been made clearly and officially by Her Majesty's Government to the Kenyan Government?

There is an understanding about what the rate should be. It has subsisted for some time and no change has been made or is anticipated.