§ 37. Mr. MATHERSasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether there is in the Scottish Office in Edinburgh a publicity department; and whether that department or any official of the Scottish 686 Office is responsible for supplying information to the Press dealing with land settlement in the Highlands?
§ Mr. ELLIOTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative; but there is an officer in the Scottish Office in London whose duties include the co-ordination of the supply of information on matters within the jurisdiction of the Secretary of State. Information on land settlement would normally be supplied by the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, but that Department of course does not concern itself with, or take any responsibility for, views expressed on facts so obtained.
§ Mr. MATHERSDoes that mean that nobody in the Scottish Office or connected with it was responsible for articles on land settlement appearing in the "Glasgow Herald" at the end of October?
§ Mr. ELLIOTOh, yes, certainly, Sir.