asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now in a position to give a decision on the application for oil and petrochemical developments on the Hunterston peninsula; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now take steps to review the Hunterston project in the light of Her Majesty's Government's policy of protecting the environment.

I intend to clarify the position on Hunterston as soon as I have fully studied the complex situation.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I am very disappointed by that reply? Does he appreciate that the question of oil development at Hunterston has been before us since 1969, when he was previously Secretary of State for Scotland? Is he further aware that in 1970 there was a General Election, in which he was replaced by a Tory Secretary of State who has delayed any decision on this development for the past three and a half years. Can he give Ayr County Council the assurance that an immediate decision will be taken on the council's application for oil development at Hunterston before the next election?

I would have been disappointed if my hon. Friend had not expressed disappointment. He knows me well enough to realise that I will not indulge in unnecessary delay. There have been considerable changes since the first inquiry.

Will the right hon. Gentleman publish the findings of the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee and make a statement upon them with particular reference to the possible dangers of petrochemical developments being placed besides existing nuclear development? Will he assure the House that if there is the slightest risk of any danger the Government will not go ahead with the development at Hunterston?

This is one of the important aspects that I have to take into account. We have just received this report, which will have to be studied carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new proposals he has for speeding up demolition of derelict buildings in Glasgow.

My right hon. Friend will take any action which is his responsibility as expeditiously as possible, but this is largely a matter for the local authority.

Will my hon. Friend consider making places available in Government training centres for training people in the skills of demolition so as to speed up demolition in areas such as the new Glasgow Central Constituency? Is he aware that this would reduce the crime rate and the burden upon the fire brigade and ambulance services while at the same time performing a great service to the city of Glasgow?

I appreciate my hon. Friend's point. I will see that his suggestion, which is principally for the Department of Employment, is investigated.

Will the hon. Gentleman encourage close co-operation so as to preserve buildings of architectural interest, even though some of them are in derelict areas?

I appreciate the hon. Lady's point. This is a matter which we shall consider as occasion arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to enable Glasgow Corporation to undertake immediate emergency measures to speed up, without regard to any other building development, the desolated areas in the city, particularly in Govan, in view of the extent to which that area is suffering blight.

My right hon. Friend certainly wants to see speedy develop- ment or improvement of desolated areas in Glasgow. He hopes to have early consultations with the corporation about the policies to be followed.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply. When he meets representatives of Glasgow Corporation for discussions, will he press the necessity for rebuilding a direct labour department to ensure that any labour available in Glasgow is not used to build offices, shops and warehouses, but will be available for house building?

The Scottish Office shares my hon. Friend's support for direct labour departments. This is a point which I hope to discuss when I meet representatives of the corporation.

Will the hon. Gentleman remember the importance of Walmer Crescent, since its architectural value is recognised throughout Europe?

I remember the import. ance of these matters. I remember also the importance of doing something about the appalling slum conditions in Govan and elsewhere in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary or State for Scotland when he hopes to introduce legislation arising from the Hunter Committee's Report on freshwater fishing.

I am considering this matter but I cannot yet make a statement of the Government's intentions.

Albeit it is a second best, may I ask the Secretary of State to reflect on the draft Bill that I gather he inherited in his Department to see whether it is acceptable? If it is not, can something be done about the stocking of currently poor water to assist anglers who cannot afford better waters further afield?

I appreciate the second point of my hon. Friend's question. I do not know whether there was a Bill available—I have not seen it—but it is unlikely that it would meet the attitude I adopt in relation to the Hunter Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the change in local rates which will occur in the year 1974–75.

It is not practicable to make a useful estimate at present.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the serious concern expressed by local authorities yesterday following discussions with Lord Hughes? Is he further aware of their fears that there might be a savage rates rise this year? Can he make it clear—in view of the assurances given following the rents freeze that local authorities would be compensated for loss of income—that authorities will be fully compensated, otherwise we will find that instead of a rent rise in October tenants will be faced with a major rates rise in August?

I think that what worries local authorities most is the considerable pressure on costs. This is one of the inflationary consequences of the last Government. As for rent rises, we have already said that details of the compensation for local authorities are being worked out.

Will the hon. Gentleman come clean and acknowledge that his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has said already that the local authorities are not to be compensated in full for the consequences of the rent freeze?

I do not think that my right hon. Friend has said that at all.

He did say it.

Will the Government give preference to ratepayers in urban areas, and does that not mean that ratepayers in rural areas will be prejudiced?

The hon. Gentleman is talking about a different situation. In any event, the rate support grant order for Scotland will be due for consideration in this House very soon, and these points can be discussed then.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he plans to visit Paisley.

I have no plans at present to visit Paisley, but, as my hon. Friend knows, I am always willing to consider or undertake visits where circumstances so warrant.

My right hon. Friend will realise that his appointment to high office has raised the hopes of people in the Ferguslie Park area of Paisley that some action will at last be taken to help them. If he decides to visit Paisley, is he aware that I can show him scenes of devastation unprecedented in peace-time Britain?

I am aware of the special problems of Paisley in Ferguslie Park, and some improvement schemes have been approved in respect of that. However, the initiative must come from Paisley Town Council, and we shall do all that we can to assist the authority.

Before the right hon. Gentleman visits Paisley, will he, as Scotland's economic Minister, take some action to save the jobs of those in Paisley who work in Yarrows? Is he aware that there appears to be a threat that the Greek Government will withdraw Yarrows from the list of contractors for a £125 million order, because of a blunder in the Government's foreign policy?

I do not accept that there has been any blunder in the Government's foreign policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the ratio of average council house rents to average family incomes in Scotland at the latest date for which figures are available.

The most recent estimate available is for 1972, when the figure was about 5 per cent.

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that the proportion for south of the border is exactly double that and that for most other countries in Western Europe it is about four times that? What conceivable purpose is served by freezing rents and putting the burden on the ratepayers? Do the Government think that the rating system is more egalitarian than the rent system, given the background of the Fair Rents Act?

I have said that we are not putting the burden on ratepayers. In the present economic situation it is highly important to dampen down any inflationary tendencies. The rent increases imposed under the Housing Finance Act by the previous administration were a very serious inflationary tendency. The fact that we have frozen these rents has been warmly welcomed all over Scotland.

Will my hon. Friend resist the nonsense talked from the Opposition benches about rents? Will he also resist any temptation to relate rents to family incomes and leave only the principal wage earner in a family to pay the rent? There should be no relationship between the rent paid by a family and the total family income.

I note what my hon. Friend says. I may say that I shall have no difficulty in resisting suggestions from the Opposition benches.

How can the hon. Gentleman say that the burden will not fall on the ratepayers when in a letter to me dated 18th March his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State said that he was working out detailed arrangements whereby the major part of the burden would be taken by the Government? Will the hon. Gentleman say clearly whether the Government intend to carry the full cost of the rent freeze or whether ratepayers will have to carry some of it?

My right hon. Friend has made the position clear. I ask the hon. Gentleman to await the details when they are published in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authority tenants in Scotland are now paying a nil rent.

At 28th November 1973—the latest date for which information is available—there were about 42,000 tenants whose total rent was met by rebate.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am glad to know that he has at last recognised and accepted that the Tory Government concentrated help where it was needed and freed 42,000 people from paying rent in addition to 125,000 people who were relieved through the associated supplementary benefit scheme from paying any rent? Will he now remove his silly proposal to repeal the Housing Finance Act and concentrate help where it is really needed?

I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman said. As he pointed out, there have always been large numbers of people whose rents have been met through the supplementary benefits scheme.

What about the 42,000?

What about allowing me to answer the question? There were local authority rent rebate schemes long before the last Government's Housing Finance Act. This Government have no intention of abolishing rent rebate schemes.

Is my hon. Friend aware that many heads of households living in poverty are denied any rent rebate because of the operation of the added earner charge? Will he, when framing legislation on housing finance, consider abolishing this iniquitous surcharge?

Before the Housing Finance Act was introduced rent rebates were matters for local authorities. We have already said that we shall abolish the Act and introduce legislation of our own.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the introduction of the rent freeze is just about the most grossly unfair way of helping rent payers that could be invented? Does he realise that he will concentrate the greatest help on the richest tenants and the smallest help on the poorest tenants? Can he justify that situation? Why not raise the needs allowance, which will ensure that the money goes to help the poorest tenants most?

I do not accept what the hon. Gentleman has said as a factual statement of the position. I repeat that the rent freeze has been warmly welcomed in Scotland.

Does my hon. Friend agree that it is far better to leave rent policy in the hands of the local authorities, as they know it best?

Yes. That has always been our policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how he proposes to improve planning procedures in general and those relating to oil developments in particular.

I shall consider whether there are ways in which planning applications, including those related to oil developments, might be handled more efficiently and quickly.

That is very disappointing news for developers and objectors, especially those who want to see Scotland's key role in developing British oil developed to the absolute maximum. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction with existing planning procedures and that one of the key reasons for this is the unwillingness of Government to come clean and state their intentions, especially on major decisions? Will the right hon. Gentleman please come clean and tell the people in affected areas precisely what the Government's proposals are?

The hon. Gentleman must appreciate that the Secretary of State cannot declare his intentions before an inquiry starts—

He should.

If the hon. Gentleman thinks that he should, he had better try to change the law. At present, the Secretary of State has a judicial function to perform at the end of an inquiry. The hon. Gentleman is asking me to throw aside the rights of people to object. That cannot be done.

When the right hon. Gentleman looks at planning procedures, will he examine the situation in the sea? At present, apparently there are no adequate procedures for siting installations and routing pipelines in the sea, and these are matters of great importance on the fishing grounds.

That is a new aspect, and I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has raised it. It will have to be looked at.

Will not the right hon. Gentleman show a little more urgency about this? This oil development is essential for the future development of Scotland. Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a delay by even one year may cost £100 million on the balance of payments and all the benefits that it will bring to Scotland?

The hon. Gentleman should also appreciate that speed in this matter might well lead to a decision being taken which could be regretted in a year or even in 10 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in the matter of full development status for Edinburgh.

The Lord Provost of Edinburgh raised this with me when I met him on 15th March. I assured him that when the Government come to look at assisted area boundaries generally we shall give full consideration to Edinburgh's case.

Does the right hon. Gentleman know that in the last Parliament all seven Edinburgh Members wanted this dealt with and that we failed? All that we want now—and I think we are united about it—is for the Secretary of State to make the capital the same as the rest of Scotland.

The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that we cannot treat Edinburgh in isolation from the rest of the country. I assure him that we shall look at this question when the whole position is reviewed.

Will the right hon. Gentleman give the same promise as his Conservative predecessor that, when any change is made in development area status throughout Britain, Edinburgh given the first priority?

I will not be tied to promises which that lot made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet the Educational Institute of Scotland.

My right hon. Friend has informed the Educational Institute of Scotland that he is willing to arrange for a Scottish Minister to meet it and the other main teacher associations shortly.

May I welcome the hon. Gentleman to the Government Front Bench? As he knows, the designation scheme is due for review this summer. When he meets the EIS, will he be able to announce a new and attractive scheme agreed by the Salaries Committee which may go some way to help the maldistribution of teachers in the west of Scotland?

The designation scheme is at present under consideration, and it will be discussed with the associations.

When my right hon. Friend meets the EIS will he tell it that he has acceded to its request that children it secondary schools should be allowed to leave on their sixteenth birthday if they so desire?

My hon. Friend has a later Question on this matter. There are major advantages in having fixed leaving dates. Obviously this matter can be looked at, but the educational advantages should not be disregarded.

When the Secretary of State meets the institute will he tell it, us and the country whether he seriously intends to carry through the Labour Party's eductionally damaging threats to the grant aided schools?

There are no educationally damaging threats in the Labour Party's programme. When we meet the teachers' associations I am sure that the common theme running through our discussions will be how we can mutually serve the interests of the children in the Scottish education system.

Will my hon. Friend make sure that Ayrshire is not excluded from the new designation scheme?

That is a matter that I should like to discuss, but I cannot commit myself at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the need for special assistance to the horticulture industry in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The Scottish National Farmers' Union has made representations to me about the effects of increased fuel oil prices. I am urgently considering these.

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that Continental growers appear to have been given assurances of financial help with the increased price of fuel oil, and that the recently announced increased price for coal will affect commercial growers who are still using coal?

Yes, I am aware of the situation. It is not confined to Scotland or, indeed, to this country. The people who seem to be better off are those who use natural gas and are our greatest competitors—the Dutch.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the implementation of the Government's proposals for a Scottish Assembly.

As has already been made clear, the Government intend to undertake discussions with representatives of Scottish public opinion before bringing forward any proposals.

Will the Secretary of State confirm that since the election he has undergone a blinding conversion to the view that there should be an elected assembly in Scotland?

No, I do not think so. The Labour Party and I have said all along that there is no blinding jump on the road to Damascus here.

Does my right hon. Friend agree that the whole of the Kilbrandon Report has been badly vitiated by the very narrow interpretation of the terms of reference by the commission and that the majority of its members appear to have reached their conclusion before studying the evidence? Will he ensure that we have a Green Paper, not a White Paper, so that we can discuss this matter without any commitment whatsoever?

I take note of what my hon. Friend has said. The truth is that people talk about Kilbrandon, but very few have ever read it and have no idea what it proposes. I have heard people say, "The time for talking is over. Let us get down to action." They have not read Kilbrandon either. Kilbrandon said that the survey proved that there was no clear evidence of what the people want.

We know what we want.

Judging from the behaviour of the hon. Lady and her Friends during recent days, I do not think they know what they want.

"We would expect our Report to lead to public debate and the formulation of a more clearly defined public opinion. Only then will it he right for decisions to be taken."

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that after the report Lord Kilbrandon was also widely publicised as saying that if the people want it they will have to vote for it? The ballot box results show what proportion of the people are already doing that. Wait until the next election and see what happens then.

If anything, the election results in Scotland showed that the great majority voted against separation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that any nuclear reactors used in proposed power stations in Scotland are of British construction and conform to the highest safety standards.

On safety, I give the hon. Gentleman the assurance he seeks. A decision on the type of reactor to be used will be taken in the light of advice from the Nuclear Power Advisory Board, which is awaited.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the serious concern within constituencies such as Berwick and East Lothian about the safety angle? Is he prepared to undertake that no decision will be taken on these proposed nuclear power stations until that concern has been satisfied?

I do not know what the hon. Gentleman means by "satisfying that concern". I have said that safety considerations mus be paramount in this matter and that that will guide us in any approval that we may give for any particular application.

Will my hon. Friend apply his undoubted powers of scepticism to any proposal for an oil-fired power station at Bo'Ness and give an undertaking that the views of Mr. Frank Tombs of the SSEB will be preferred to those of Mr. Hawkins of the CEGB when making a decision on the nuclear power station, possibly at Dunbar?

I am aware of Mr. Tombs' views, which will be taken into consideration. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy has already given a pledge that this whole matter will be debated in the House before any decision is taken about the type of reactor that may be used in any future installations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to improve road and air communications with Aberdeen.

I am giving high priority to the improvement of the roads affording access to Aberdeen, and a substantial number of schemes are in progress or in preparation. Air services, which are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade, have recently been improved by the operators concerned and further improvements are in prospect.

Does the right hon. Gentleman appreciate that Aberdeen is the oil capital not just of Scotland or of the United Kingdom, but of the whole of Europe? Before any other communications start to be made with the United Kingdom, may I suggest that the road to Aberdeen is made dual carriageway throughout and that the Nissen huts which form Aberdeen airport are replaced by permanent structures?

It is because I realise the importance of Aberdeen in the development of oil that we have taken the action that has been announced.

Since taking office, has my right hon. Friend had time to study the announcement by the previous Government about investment in rail networks in Scotland and, particularly, to ascertain whether there has been a switch in resources from the road to the rail network to finance that?

I have not had time to make a detailed study of the point raised by my hon. Friend, but as he has brought it to my notice I shall do so.

With regard to the infrastructure of Aberdeen, will the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge, in all fairness, that while much still needs to be done, much was done by the previous Government about Aberdeen harbour, Peterhead harbour—to set the A9 in train —and Dyce airport?

I do not hesitate to do that. Any scheme that is in progress was started by the previous administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of days per year on which a member of the new regional councils and a member of the area health boards, respectively, will be required to attend meetings.

Health boards have not yet established a fixed pattern of meetings, nor have they decided on their committee structures. It is estimated, however, that, on average, members may be expected to attend at least two meetings each month.

Is my hon. Friend aware that a Tory local authority in London has reduced the £10 daily allowance to 5p, thus eliminating, or attempting to eliminate, the membership of Labour Members from that authority? Will my hon. Friend either make this allowance mandatory in Scotland or introduce a full-time payment for regional councils? Will he also take steps to ensure that local authorities in Scotland provide adequate unpaid leave of absence to employees who undertake public duties?

I am disappointed to hear of the case in England, but I hope that Scottish local authorities will bear in mind that it is up to 10 per 24-hour absence and will make this as reasonable as possible and not attempt to cut the figure to a bare minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much the number of teachers in secondary schools in the Glasgow Education Authority is below establishment.

In September last Glasgow was about 350 teachers short of the number needed for the staffing standards proposed in the report on secondary school staffing. The report recognised, of course, that these standards were for the future and would not be achieved for some time yet, especially in the more difficult areas.

Does the hon. Gentleman appreciate that one school in Pollok is 20 teachers short? I do not blame my hon. Friend for that, because we have been subjected to four years of Tory rule. Will my hon. Friend regard this as urgent, and urge Glasgow Corporation to make local authority houses available to teachers in the way that most local authorities do for firemen and policemen?

I shall bear in mind the suggestion about council housing. A circular was issued last month by the Scottish Education Department, after consultation with local authority associations, asking all education authorities, apart from Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Renfrew-shire, not to improve their staffing position in the session 1974–75 beyond that attained this session. It is hoped that that will help to make more teachers available in areas of extreme shortage.

How does the hon. Gentleman expect to get more teachers if they are paid less than mineworkers? Is the situation not going to get much worse?

Teachers' salaries are a matter for negotiation. I do not think that one should in any way decry the settlement made to the miners. It will help to improve the conditions of children in mining areas and enable them to benefit from the system of education that is provided.

Is there any truth in the suggestion that when the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis) retires he will take a job in the pits?

Not soon enough.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish annually a list of all owners of land, giving the area, date it was acquired, and the purchase price, and place this in the reference or public libraries of the regional councils in whose areas the land is situated.

No, Sir. The expense of doing this would not be justified. Since the information is already available in the Department of the Registers of Scotland.

Is my hon. Friend aware that few people apply to see or read the registers in Scotland, whereas many people go to public and reference libraries, and the costs would be justified to make the facts known to the public? That would be better than wild speculation and rumours, particularly about local authority members.

It is unfortunate if there are rumours and speculation, but the information is publicly available, and to duplicate it, as my hon. Friend suggests, in public libraries all over Scotland would not be justified, in view of the expense involved.

May I ask whether, for the removal or confirmation of doubt, the hon. Gentleman will now publish in reference or public libraries in Dundee a list of all owners of local land, giving the area, the date it was acquired, the purchase price, the selling price and the profit?

I do not think that I shall do that, but I shall consider the question if the hon. Gentleman will provide similar information for both Scotland and England in respect of hon. Gentlemen opposite, setting out their purchases and sales of land.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek powers to prevent the purchase of holiday homes in the Highlands.

I am not persuaded that this is necessary.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that this is a serious problem in the Highlands? The fact that the existing housing stock can be purchased for use for perhaps a few weekends a year makes a significant difference to the housing problems of local people in these areas.

I agree that this is a serious problem in some areas, but I do not think that it can be solved by imposing an overall prohibition on people buying second houses. There is, for instance, the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mrs. Ewing) who, I understand, has a second house somewhere in Scotland.

I am sure the Minister will accept that there is a real problem here. Will he consult the Highlands and Islands Development Board about the suggestion that I made two years ago that it might act as agent for the purchase of houses becoming vacant in small village communities with a view to letting them to people who live there all the year round rather than for only a short time?

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker—

Order. The hon. Lady must leave it to me. I intend to call her to ask a supplementary question.

I appreciate the practical suggestion made by the hon. Gentleman and I shall consider whether something can be done along those lines. If there are other practical suggestions, I shall be willing to consider them.

Does the Minister think that that was a worthy observation to make about me, bearing in mind that I go to my constituency every weekend? Does he define all those who have houses in London as having holiday homes'? Does he define many Members who do not have a home in their constituencies as being in some way lacking? Does the hon. Gentleman think that that was a worthy observation to make about me?

It was meant to be a jocular remark. Obviously, if the hon. Lady has taken offence at it, I apologise to her.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to reverse the recent cut-backs in public spending in Scotland.

The future level of public expenditure is one of many questions which the Government are urgently considering.

In view of that statement, is the right hon. Gentleman not aware of the widespread resentment in Scotland that exemption from economic cut-backs should be permitted to allow the breakneck extraction of Scottish oil, but that similar speed is not shown in action for the social and economic welfare of the Scottish people in education, transport improvements and environmental assistance?

There was not an actual exemption, but only a consideration of priorities. This matter inevitably affects the economic and social welfare of Scotland's future. No one would deny that.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of those cutbacks on public expenditure are particularly severe in Central Scotland, where many of the older hospitals were due to be brought up to date and their operating theatres modernised, and that this is an urgent problem to which we are desperately hoping he will give his early attention?

I appreciate the difficulties here, but we must deal with the situation as we have found it. It certainly did not improve from the time that the circular was issued until we took over. We must face that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman assure us that in any consideration of future cuts in Government expenditure he will continue the policy of the previous Government; that is, where development is vital for the support of North Sea oil in terms of houses, roads, communications and ports, he will follow the previous Government's policy'?

Yes, of course we shall, but I hope that we will not do it at the expense of the rest of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to abolish feu duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will reintroduce the legislation initiated by his predecessor to abolish feu duty.

Subject to other demands on the parliamentary timetable, I intend to introduce legislation on this subject. I am considering urgently the precise scope of such legislation.

Will the right hon. Gentleman also consider a need for legislation to simplify and reform the system of land tenure in Scotland, particularly in relation to conveyancing, in an effort to make it easier and less expensive for people purchasing houses?

We embarked on this. It is a fairly long process and the hon. Gentleman will appreciate that the registration of title will follow this other matter. We have this in mind.

Will the right hon. Gentleman confirm that, despite the inexplicable absence of any mention of this matter from the Gracious Speech, it will be brought forward this Session?

That entirely depends on the parliamentary situation. There was an error in the hon. Gentleman's Question, incidentally. The legislation of the last administration did not seek to abolish feu duties. In fact, it deliberately kept them. One of the things we have to consider is whether or not we can extend and strengthen, without completely altering, the Bill which was before us at that time and which, regrettably, was guillotined by the General Election.

Will my right hon. Friend assure us that he will consider the question asked by the hon. Member for Dundee, East (Mr. Wilson) in respect of the lawyer's racketeering in conveyancing on houses? He has a special interest in this matter, I am sure, and will want to put it right as early as possible.

I shall be glad to look at anything like this.

Will the right hon. Gentleman at least give us an assurance that the new legislation will go as far as the legislation that we were considering when the General Election was announced, namely, that everyone in Scotland will be able to buy out a financial feu if he wishes to do so?

It was not I who called the General Election. Probably another week would have seen on the statute book what we admitted was a welcome piece of legislation. I have said that we shall consider whether we can extend and strengthen it—for instance, by trying to get rid of some more feu duties at the time of a sale. From that point of view, we should be extending the area of abolition.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide up-to-date figures, to the most recent convenient date, on gross emigration from Scotland.

The available statistics do not enable accurate estimates of gross emigration to be made but they suggest that the movements of people from Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom in the year to 30th June 1973 numbered about 61,700, with a corresponding inward movement of about 57,000. They also suggest an outward movement from Scotland to overseas countries of about 20,000 people in the same period, with an inflow of about 12,000.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that it is a serious situation that such a large number of people are leaving Scotland? In future, will he give attention to publishing this figure, which is more valuable to us than the net emigration figure, and give a breakdown of ages, skills and educational attainments in future?

I shall see what is possible, but we should not consider one in isolation from the other. The fact that there is such an inward movement as well is of significance. We shall not be able to stop all these movements. We must keep a proper balance and take account of the inward movement as well.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that a new ingredient is coming into the immigration situation in Scotland, namely, that over the last three and a half years, the Tory Government created a new homeless class—the ordinary working men, working hard, who could not get a mortgage or a council house?

We must appreciate this. I said a long time ago that two factors would lead to a stabilisation of the population and retain more people in Scotland—first, a job and, second, a home. The extent to which we have contributed towards that situation is an indication of the success in the last year's figures.

Will the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that we welcome having as many people coming into Scotland as possible, as well as fewer leaving, and that this is for the health of Scotland? Scotland is increasingly a good place for people to come and stay and work. Also, will the right hon. Gentleman acknowledge that last year the level of migration from Scotland was halved, and was the lowest since the war?

I think that that has already been referred to. One thing which we must take into acount and which we must welcome, although it brings problems, is that there is probably more migration within Scotland than there has been before. I know that people in Glasgow are very concerned about this, although a certain amount of it must go on.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that there is Scottish representation at the forthcoming Law of the Sea Conference.

The interests of Scotland as part of the United Kingdom are properly represented in the British delegation.

May I combine with my question a request that the right hon. Gentleman or one of his assistants should attend in person? I am sure that he is entitled to do so. The reason for that request is that the inshore fishermen of Scotland are in the majority in the industry, unlike the situation in England, and there is a special need for a separate Scottish voice on this matter.

In fact, a Scottish fishery expert is part of the permanent delegation. Other officials in my Department will go as necessary. That Scottish expert was in on all the preparatory and organisational sessions of the conference, speaking on behalf of England as well as Scotland. I shall take note of the hon. Lady's other point, but only as necessary.

While they are about it, why not Shetland representation at Caracas?

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will accept the principle that ferry crossings to the Scottish islands are part of the highway system and support them accordingly.

No, Sir, but the Government already give substantial capital and revenue assistance towards the operation and development of shipping services to the Scottish islands.

Is the hon. Member aware that in the very north of Norway, inside the Arctic Circle, there are communities with a reasonably prosperous developing existence based purely on the acceptance of this principle by the Norwegian Government? Since this idea is supported by the Highlands and Islands Development Board, among others, will he give attention to adopting it for the Highlands and Islands of Scotland?

The Norwegian situation cannot be explained solely on grounds of transport. However, there are already substantial public subsidies to the transport services in the Highlands and Islands.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree with me that the Gaskin Report a year or two ago made it clear that there were areas on the mainland that had more extra costs to cope with than those on the islands? Does he not agree that in the last few years the shipping services to the islands have been transformed, with roll-on/roll-off services almost every day?

I do not know that the transformation has been accorded an almost universal welcome, but I agree with the hon. Gentleman that, although the disabilities that the islands and other remote areas suffer in regard to transport costs present a serious problem, it should not be over-emphasised, and this was brought out in the Gaskin Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider appointing to the Highlands and Islands Development Board someone from the Scottish trade union movement.

Is the Secretary of State aware that when the previous administration removed the trade unionists from the board it caused a great deal of apprehension and concern in Scotland? Because of the rapid industrialisation of certain areas, would it not be a great idea now to swap a trade unionist for the retired rear-admiral?

Yes, it would be a good idea when he is due to retire.

Surely the Secretary of State will agree that the important thing about appointments to the Highlands and Islands Development Board is not that they should be trade unionists or rear-admirals but that they should be good people, competent and able to do the job?

I entirely agree. That is why, when I first selected the chairman, deputy-chairman and members of this board, I included a trade unionist—Mr. William Scholes—who did an excellent job.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from technical teachers in Scotland regarding qualification for the new diploma in technical education.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from teachers in Renfrewshire against the arrangements for enabling certain technical subjects teachers to qualify for the new Diploma in technical education.

Will my hon. Friend confirm that the arrangements made by his predecessor in office still prevail, whereby it was agreed that the arrangements in force at that time would be suspended pending discussions with technical teachers in Scotland, to establish whether there was any claim on behalf of those technical teachers that they would qualify for the diploma without examination? This is causing those technical teachers great concern.

I can confirm that as a result of the indignation aroused by the proposals a review was undertaken by the Scottish Education Department. That review had not been completed prior to the election. Therefore, the arrangements are still in suspension but I am studying the matter urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had requesting that secondary school pupils should be allowed to leave school on their sixteenth birthday if desired; and if he will make a statement.

Since the raising of the school leaving age a number of bodies, including teachers' associations and education authorities, and a few individual parents, have pressed for this change in the law.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the son of a constituent of mine will miss a very good apprenticeship by one day, but that the father can get over this problem simply by passing the boy over to a relative for two or three months, because the school holiday period is different in another education authority?

I am aware that if any date is chosen there is always someone who falls on the wrong side of that date. It should be borne in mind in connection with employment that there would need to be a change in legislation if the present arrangements were to be changed to allow a child to leave school whilst still of school age. Therefore, the matter is not as easy as perhaps appears at first sight.

Will the Under-Secretary state whether the present Government will go ahead with the review which the last administration had in mind, of problems arising from the raising of the school leaving, age? If that is the present Government's intention, will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind when he conducts that review that it is unacceptable today that a reluctant pupil who has a job to go to should be forced to stay on at school beyond his sixteenth birthday?

I shall have to see what transpires in the next few months. Obviously, something of this kind will always be subject to review and consideration. We want to make arrangements to ensure that pupils attending school are not reluctant attenders beyond the age of 16. It is the purpose of this Government to make education something which children will want, enjoy and benefit from.

Will my hon. Friend assure the House that whatever he may do in this connection he will certainly ensure that the standards in Scotland in this respect are not lower than they are in England and Wales?

Of course I can give that assurance.

I understood that the Under-Secretary of State said earlier that there were good educational reasons for keeping children in school beyond their sixteenth birthday. As I have had many representations from parents, pupils and teachers against this proposition, will the Under-Secretary of State say where he is getting his advice from?

The advantage is that education authorities and schools will be able so to arrange courses as to benefit children and to know when they are going to leave school. It also means that they can round off the children's education properly. That is a major advantage. It is worth while stating that there is pressure from another source that instead of two leaving dates there should be only one. So the pressures are not only one way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give approval to the plans submitted by Lanarkshire County Council for the modernisation of Blantyre's Main Street.

My right hon. Friend is considering a roads scheme incorporating the modernisation of Main Street, High Blantyre, which was submitted by Lanark County Council. No roads scheme affecting Blantyre is before him.

May I thank my hon. Friend for that reply and ask him whether, when Lanarkshire County Council places before him its plans for the modernisation of Blantyre Main Street itself, he will take the opportunity of paying an early visit to that town to see for himself the necessity for the modernisation of Main Street, which is not a scheme which is going to cost a tremendous amount of money?

I think that proposal, when it comes, will come as part of a much larger proposal and I do not think I can comment on it until it has been submitted to us. I hope that, whether in that context or in some other, I shall have an early opportunity of visiting my hon. Friend's constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a committee to conduct a major inquiry into all aspects of education in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The education service in Scotland has many problems but I do not believe that a wide-ranging inquiry of this kind would be the best way of proceeding.

May I assume that the Government are already committed to continuing the committee of inquiry into truancy? Is my hon. Friend aware that there is more discontent in the teaching profession now, after three and a half years of Conservative Government, than there has been for many years? Surely, in these circumstances there is a case for having a wide-ranging inquiry into all the outstanding problems in Scottish education?

I confirm that the committee of inquiry into truancy and indiscipline will proceed. An announcement of the chairman will be made shortly.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that I am glad that he is to continue the committee into truancy and indiscipline? Will he confirm whether it is his view that the Scottish Teachers' Service Conditions Committee is the right forum to bring forward problems of the type which have been mentioned?

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the question of service conditions is before this committee at the moment. However, if, after these discussions, the teachers' associations wish to raise with me further points for further inquiry, I shall certainly be prepared to meet them and listen to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will reimburse the objectors at the Drumbuie public inquiry in respect of their expenses.

I cannot anticipate my decision on any submission about expenses which may be put before me.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind when considering this matter that the assurance given by his predecessor that he would consider the expenses of the objectors during this inquiry led many of them to continue with their objections, and if they do not receive at least a contribution towards their expenses many of them will suffer serious financial embarrassment?

It is as well to get right exactly what the previous Secretary of State said. As I understand it, he undertook only to take account of any claim for some expenses that might have been rendered nugatory by the then Government's proposals for a special Bill. That special Bill has not been proceeded with, so the position has changed.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that many of the objectors to the Drumbuie scheme are holiday home Englanders or Lowlanders who would allow the local community to die or emigrate through lack of employment?

No doubt there are many like that, but I can assure my hon. Friend that there are many people in the locality who are concerned about the scheme.

When the right hon. Gentleman is considering this matter will he bear in mind that there is widespread feeling that excessive expenses should not be borne by the objectors? Will he also see whether the general level of expenses, the time taken and the method of these inquiries should not be made more economic?

I believe we discussed all of this on an earlier Question. All these matters will be considered, but the question of expenses does not arise until after the inquiry.