§ 12. Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date the Scottish Planning Board is to be established.
§ Mr. WillisThe Board has already begun its work.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithDoes the Minister of State realise that that does not 373 answer my Question which asked for the date? Does he realise that the Scottish Development Department has already done a great deal towards meeting Scotland's problems? Is he prepared to say in what ways the functions of the Planning Board will be able to add to what was already being done most effectively by the Scottish Development Department?
§ Mr. WillisMy right hon. Friend said on 2nd December last that the Board would be set up, and of course it was set up very shortly afterwards and has been meeting since. With regard to its functions, as has been explained before in the House at Question Time, it has been strengthened to give to the planning machinery in St. Andrew's House an economic content which it previously lacked.