§ 37. Mr. G. M. Thomsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent responsibility for the information services of the Scottish Office is to be assumed by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. John Maclay)As indicated in the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 24th January, my responsibility for the information services of the Scottish Office is unaffected.
§ Mr. ThomsonSince the Prime Minister said that the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is to be responsible for coordinating the various Departmental information services, can the Secretary of State say what that means? In what way will the Scottish information services be co-ordinated? In view of the obscurity of this statement, could he tell us what his right hon. Friend is doing about it?
§ Mr. MaclayMy own expectation is that I look forward to maintaining very close contact with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. I cannot really add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on a previous occasion.
§ Mr. WoodburnCan the right hon. Gentleman give us an assurance that the very valuable services of his information department in connection with his responsibilities for the economic wellbeing of Scotland will be in no way subject to any restriction or interference by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster?
§ Mr. MaclayI have already learned how valuable these services are, and I have no reason to believe that they will be interfered with in any way whatsoever.